This special edition highlights two important opportunities to make your voice heard. Both issues are currently open for public comment, and both will benefit from strong community participation before their upcoming deadlines.

🚨 Your Voice Is Needed Before July 1.​
The proposed ICE detention warehouse would affect communities across the region. This may be the most important opportunity yet to speak out.

The proposed ICE detention warehouse in Washington County isn't just a local issue. The facility is part of a broader regional detention and deportation network that would affect communities, infrastructure, transportation systems, and immigrant families throughout the Mid-Atlantic. DHS is currently accepting public comments as part of its environmental review process, and the deadline to submit comments is July 1, 2026.

Why residents across the region should comment:

• Maryland: The facility would be located in Maryland and could impact local infrastructure, public services, environmental resources, and surrounding communities.
• Washington, DC: Many immigrant families, advocacy organizations, legal service providers, and federal stakeholders connected to this issue are based in the District.
• Virginia: Families, workers, and immigrant communities throughout Northern Virginia are part of the region served by ICE's Baltimore field operations.
• West Virginia: The proposed facility would expand detention capacity within driving distance of West Virginia communities and families.
• Pennsylvania: Similar warehouse detention proposals have affected Pennsylvania, making this a regional issue with shared environmental and community impacts.
• Delaware: Delaware residents are part of the broader region impacted by ICE detention and deportation policies administered through the Baltimore area network.

How to Take Action Before July 1

1. Visit: Submit a Public Comment to DHS​
2. Personalize the template with your own concerns, especially environmental, community, infrastructure, public safety, or humanitarian impacts.
3. Submit your comment before July 1, 2026.

A personalized comment carries more weight than a form letter. Even a few sentences explaining why this issue matters to you can help ensure your voice becomes part of the public record.

🚨 Public Comment Opportunity: Proposed Changes to Federal Research Funding Rules

Deadline: July 13

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Russell Vought, is proposing sweeping changes to how federal grants and research funding are awarded and managed. While scientists and universities have raised the alarm, these changes would affect any organization, nonprofit, school, hospital, or local government seeking federal funding. Critics argue the proposal could shift decision-making power away from subject-matter experts and toward political appointees, potentially affecting research, public health, education, economic development, and innovation.

Key concerns raised by researchers and policy experts include:

• Increased political oversight of grant and funding decisions
• Reduced independence for scientific and research review processes
• New ideological and policy screening requirements for applicants
• Expanded authority for agencies to terminate or deny funding
• Additional administrative requirements that could disadvantage smaller organizations and institutions
• Changes that could affect long-standing standards for evidence-based decision-making
• Potential impacts on medical research, public health initiatives, education, technology, and economic development

Take Action Before July 13

Anyone can submit a public comment, and comments do not need to be lengthy. Personalized comments carry the most weight.

Learn more:

• Overview of the proposed changes: https://elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of-key-changes-in-ombs-proposed​

Submit a public comment:

• Official federal comment portal: https://www.regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001​
• Alternative comment portal from Stand Up for Science: https://fight2win.standupforscience.net/campaign/163675​

Even a few sentences explaining why independent research, evidence-based policymaking, or federal grant funding matters to you can make a difference before the July 13 deadline.

Whether you submit one comment or both, thank you for taking action. Democracy works best when people stay engaged, ask questions, and participate in the decisions that affect us all.

—The Team at Indivisible