MONDAY: Public Anticipated To Turn Out To Push Against Federally Proposed ICE "Processing Site" in Orange County

TONIGHT: Monday 1/12/2026 City Council Meeting in Chester, NY. Orange County.

A Little Beacon Blog reported on this development for Orange County last week. Both the Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus @steve.neuhaus and Representative Pat Ryan @patryanforcongress were against it:

“ICE ‘Processing Site’ Proposed For Chester, NY ‘Disgusts’ Pat Ryan and ‘Disappoints’ Steve Neuhaus; ICE Likens It To ‘Like Amazon Prime, But With Human Beings’”

A City Council Meeting for Chester, NY is having a meeting tonight. While the topic of the warehouse conversion is not on the agenda, the Daily Voice reports, organizations have rallied people to attend in opposition of the project. “Rural & Migrant Ministry, Inc., a nonprofit based in Cornwall-On-Hudson, announced Sunday, Jan. 11, that it and several immigrant-serving organizations will attend the Chester Village Board meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, to voice opposition to the proposal, in addition to holding a protest before the meeting begins.“

The local news source reports that the meeting has been moved to Chester Senior Center at 81 Laroe Rd. because of the anticipated high attendance. A protest will be held at 6:30pm before the meeting starts.

“According to the nonprofit, one potential site is a warehouse in the Chester Industrial Park owned by billionaire investor and former Trump adviser Carl Icahn,” Daily Voice reports.

Pat Ryan said of the project in a tweet on X: “‘Like Prime, but with human beings.’” That’s how ICE is describing its new facilities, including a proposed location in Chester (which hasn’t been coordinated with local leaders in any way, FYI). It’s disgusting, infuriating, & UNAMERICAN. Our community will not stand for it.”

News12 reported that Neuhaus said he “does not want the county to host a facility that might be holding good, innocent people.”

ICE "Processing Site" Proposed For Chester, NY "Disgusts" Pat Ryan and "Disappoints" Steve Neuhaus; ICE Likens It To “Like Amazon Prime, But With Human Beings”

The Washington Post published a story in the last week of December 2025 highlighting plans that ICE is targeting warehouses across the nation to house people it has rounded up, including families, before they are deported to other countries. According to the reporting which sources internal ICE documents, the federal government intends to convert warehouses into at least 7 large-scale detention centers and 16 smaller processing sites. One such center is located in Chester, NY, in a warehouse formerly occupied by a Pep Boys. A representative from Pep Boys has confirmed with A Little Beacon Blog that they do not own the property.

According to the article, ICE detained 68,000 people at the beginning of December 2025 alone, which their reporting says is the highest number on record. "Nearly half, or 48% of these people, have no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, ICE data shows," the article said.

“The administration’s goal, he said, was to deport immigrants as efficiently as Amazon moves packages: ‘Like Prime, but with human beings.’”

— ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons

ICE Acting Director Todd. M. Lyons was quoted in the article as saying: “We need to get better at treating this like a business,” the Arizona Mirror first reported at a border security conference in April 2025. "The administration’s goal, he said, was to deport immigrants as efficiently as Amazon moves packages: “'Like Prime, but with human beings.'”

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said he was "disappointed" to learn of this business decision Westchster News12 reported, and said he was not consulted. The news outlet reported that Neuhaus said "the owner of a vacant warehouse formerly used by Pep Boys in the Chester Industrial Park told the county ICE officials have been inquiring about using the warehouse as a detention center for immigrants. Neuhaus said Friday in a Zoom interview that he is disappointed since the county has been hoping the warehouse would become a film studio."

The Orange County Executive also said he did not want to "deal with" clashes between protesters and the ICE facility that would likely arise. "The federal government is hunting people down," Neuhaus said to News12 reporter Ben Nandy. "They say they're mostly bad people, but if there are families with children, that's a problem. We owe it to ourselves to come up with a better solution than to round them up as cattle in a temporary center in a warehouse."

Representative Pat Ryan expressed outrage, saying in a tweet on X: “'Like Prime, but with human beings.'” That’s how ICE is describing its new facilities, including a proposed location in Chester (which hasn't been coordinated with local leaders in any way, FYI). It’s disgusting, infuriating, & UNAMERICAN. Our community will not stand for it."

News12 reported that Neuhaus also said he "does not want the county to host a facility that might be holding good, innocent people."

According to the Washington Post article, the Department of Homeland Security had awarded one $29.9 million contract to KPB Services LLC, for help with “due diligence services and concept design” for the new facilities. KPB Services LLC is a tribal subsidiary of The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, who fired their senior management of their economic development corporation responsible for seeking and securing the contract after backlash over the contract, according to Native News Online.

Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Prairie Band LLC issued a joint statement that said in part: “Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Prairie Band LLC understand the concerns raised about a recently awarded Department of Homeland Security planning contract that involves feasibility studies and technical assessments,” the statement said. “As a sovereign Nation, our values guide the decisions we make, and we acknowledge that this contract does not align with those principles.”

The Washington Post reported from the contract solicitation that ICE intend to transform the warehouses "to include intake areas, housing units with showers and restrooms, a kitchen, dining areas, a medical unit, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, a law library, and administrative offices. "Some of the facilities will include special housing designed for families in custody," the article said.

In 2015 under President Obama, the Washington Post reported that "a government watchdog report found that deportation flights often leave the country with empty seats because of the logistical difficulty of bringing enough people eligible for deportation to an airplane at the same time."

The term "eligible for deportation" is a questionable term at this time, since it is not something one aspires to reach, and at times the people deported are taken while at mandatory court hearings during their legal immigration process. The term "eligible" has arguably lost credibility in this case.

Orange County Arts Council OCAC Announced $25k For Artists

Call For Artists and Community Arts Grants

Orange County NY Arts Council announces two locally-funded opportunities representing $25,000 of available grant awards to go directly to artists in Orange County. The 2023 Community Arts Grants and the Art Affair 2023 Call for Artists are both locally funded opportunities created specifically with the needs of the local arts community in mind. Individual artists and arts organizations are encouraged to apply for both opportunities. Applications can be found under “Grants” in the “Resources” tab found here or through OCAC’s links on social media platforms.

Since 2017, the Community Arts Grants have provided funding to local artists through a generous contribution of the Wesley-Kruger Family Foundation. Applications for $1,000 grants are now being accepted through June 15. All artists and arts organizations living in or serving Orange County, NY are encouraged to apply. This will be the last year of this program in its current form, as an updated Community Arts Program will be announced later this year.

The Orange County Arts Council fundraiser, the Art Affair, sold out the 2022 presentation which featured over 50 artists presenting and performing their work during the black-tie suggested, creative attire required, evening. The Art Affair is designed to showcase Orange County's art scene by creating an immersive event where guests can interact and experience art in many forms through installations and performances while enjoying curated food and themed beverages. Submissions for this year’s theme, Wonderland, are now being accepted and will be presented in November. Artists can receive up to $3,000 in funding for participation in this event by applying by June 15th.

Additional information:

Both applications will close June 15, 2023 at 11:59pm.

Community Arts Grants

• Applicants MUST read the guidelines prior to submitting. Guidelines linked here.

• Deadline:  June 15th 2023 11:59pm

• The Community Arts Grants will be administered by the Orange County Arts Council (the “Arts Council”) and funded through individual donations made to the Arts Council from donors and sponsors, including a generous gift from the Wesley-Krueger Family Foundation. The work of the Arts Council is made possible in part by generous support of Orange County, NY and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Art Affair 2023 Call for Artists

• Selected projects will be integrated into the evening's experience as designed by the OCAC Executive Director, the Gala Chair, and Gala Committee Members. Artists maintain all rights to their work and give Orange County Arts Council permission to use photo, audio, and video recordings of the work for promotional purposes.

• Projects will be presented at the Art Affair, Saturday, November 18th, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

• All applicants must reside in Orange County NY or show significant participation in the Orange County Arts Community outside this opportunity.

• The Art Affair serves as its major fundraiser and provides exposure to the general public to artists and their work throughout Orange County. The Gala strives to elevate and bring together art and business and public.

Submissions requested:

• Live Performance. Not to exceed 10 minutes in length. Dance, Theatre, Performance Art, Music, Readings, etc.

• Art displays and installations. Our venue is large and we wish to fill the space with art. Submissions may include: practical builds (stage, drink bar, check-in table), internal or external installations or displays, immersive experience moments, AV installations, etc.

About the Orange County Arts Council (OCAC):

The Orange County Arts Council is a private, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to meeting the growing need for local arts advocacy and serving as a county-wide arts resource. A diverse Board of Directors made up of community leaders, business leaders, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists oversees the Orange County Arts Council. Many of OCAC programs are designed and implemented by volunteers serving on various committees.

Orange County Arts Council supports and empowers artists, fosters diverse forms of expression and promotes access to the arts through educational programs, cultural events, public projects and participation that is integral to the economic development and collective well-being of our community. To learn more, click here or call 845-202-0140. 

Orange County (Newburgh, etc.) Health Department Strongly Recommends Masks For All In Public Indoor Spaces

The Times Herald-Record has reported that Orange County issued a public health alert on Thursday, August 12th, 2021 that all residents should wear masks indoors when in public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. This, as Sullivan County announced the following day that masks were required to be worn inside of all County buildings. Dutchess County has not issued guidance thus far. ALBB has reached out to Dutchess County today for comment (Monday August 16, 2021) and will update this article if a response comes. Orange County is across the Hudson River from Beacon, and is home to Newburgh and many other communities.

Before issuing a mask requirement, Dr. Irina Gelman, DPM, MPH, PHDc, the Commissioner of Health for Orange County, said that she is waiting to see what if anything will be done at the state level, as Kathy Hochul moves to become governor on Aug. 24 after Andrew Cuomo's formal resignation.

According to the CDC, Orange County, Sullivan County, and Dutchess County are all in “high transmission” areas, which to the CDC means a rise in Active Cases. See the CDC’s tool here. Areas in “high transmission” areas are strongly recommended by the CDC to mask up indoors in public spaces regardless of vaccination status.

(4/27/2020) COVID-19 Numbers for Beacon, Newburgh, Fishkill, Wappingers

Numbers for Dutchess County have decreased since yesterday’s report. The number of tests decreased, and the number of people from the testing group testing positive decreased. So far, the number of deaths remains at 36, and the number of hospitalized decreased to 77 (previously 79).

In Orange County, the number of deaths increased from 299 to 310, and the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Orange County decreased by almost the same amount. The number of tests in Orange County increased yesterday.

Sources: New York State COVID-19 Tracker, Dutchess County COVID-19 Tracker, Orange County COVID-19 Tracker
Dutchess County Tracker: Updated daily, but there could be lags, according to their Source notes.
Orange County Tracker: Updated daily, with the exception of municipality information which is updated every 2 to 3 days, according to their Source notes.
New York State Tracker: Updated daily.
Testing is limited.

DUTCHESS COUNTY 4/27/2020

How Many People Tested In Dutchess County:
13,649 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Positive So Far:
2,817 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Today:
223 (previous day 389) (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today:
24 (previous day 64) (New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now:
77 (yesterday 79) (Dutchess County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far:
36 (no change reported) (Dutchess County Tracker)

BEACON
Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon As Of Today:
114 (yesterday 117) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Beacon?
4.04%

FISHKILL
Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill As Of Today:
174 (yesterday 181) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Fishkill?
6.18%
Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill As Of Today:
155 (yesterday 163) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In East Fishkill?
5.5%

WAPPINGERS
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers As Of Today:
155 (yesterday 157) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers?
5.5%
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village As Of Today:
43 (yesterday 46) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers Falls Village?
1.53%

ORANGE COUNTY 4/27/2020

How Many People Tested In Orange County:
25,740 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Positive So Far:
8,374 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Today:
645 (previously 587) (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today:
136 (previously 132) (New York State Tracker
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now:
168 (yesterday 183) (Orange County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far:
310 (yesterday 299) (Orange County Tracker)

NEWBURGH
Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh As Of Today:
534 (no change reported) (Orange County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In Newburgh?
6.48%
Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh As Of Today:
1,044 (no change reported) (Orange County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In City of Newburgh?
12.67%