The Hanover County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday opposed plans for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Ashland.

The proposal involves the purchase of a 43-acre property and warehouse and was first shared with the board in a Jan. 22 letter from the Department of Homeland Security.

In a statement read during the meeting, Board Chair Sean M. Davis said supervisors do not believe the site is appropriate.

“Based on what we know today, this property is not the right location for this type of operation,” Davis said.

Supervisors said county officials had no role in selecting or negotiating the proposed facility, which would be located on private property in Ashland, and were given no details on its purpose or timeline.

The board’s statement came after a closed session held earlier in the day, amid intense community scrutiny before and during the meeting. Hundreds of people gathered inside and outside the county administration building, and nearly 50 residents spoke for or against the proposal during citizen comments.

Members of groups including the Hanover Rapid Response Network, 50501 Virginia and Indivisible Central VA gathered outside in the cold, with cheers and boos audible inside the building during remarks from supervisors and residents.

While a few residents supported ICE operations, many voiced opposition to the facility and its potential impact, as well as support for the board’s decision.

“I ask that you take any possible legal action to prevent this warehouse from being used by ICE in our county,” Ashland resident Jennifer Young said. “It will make our community far less safe, encroach on our liberties, and harm businesses and neighborhoods alike.”

Supervisors are encouraging DHS to consider alternative locations. The board also directed staff and County Attorney Dennis Walter to evaluate the facility’s potential impacts and provide DHS with a summary of county land-use policy and other concerns.

Walter was also directed to review Hanover’s legal options. The board has asked Virginia’s federal representatives to work with DHS to find alternative locations and assist in ending the proposal.

Hanover’s formal response to DHS is due in mid-February. The board’s statement and related correspondence are available on the county’s website.