The Keating Federal Building: 100 State Street
The Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building in downtown Rochester stands as a stark contradiction. Under a single roof, it houses:
The Western District of New York Federal Courts
The U.S. Attorney’s Office
The U.S. Marshals Service
A fully operational federal daycare
This structural proximity is the core of the issue: an active space for children, sharing a wall with the infrastructure of federal detention.
Unanimous Local Resistance Ignored
Congressman Joe Morelle, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Chief Judge Elizabeth Wolford, Mayor Malik Evans, and numerous state legislators have all demanded the project be halted.
Senator Schumer called the lack of transparency unacceptable, and Rep. Morelle confirmed the administration does not intend to delay the project for public comment or local input.
They were met with pure administrative fiat. No meaningful review. The project was approved anyway.
Local Leaders Oppose Federal Detention Plans
This news report details the initial public pushback from the exact local officials mentioned above regarding the secretive plans to install detention cells in the downtown Rochester courthouse.
What You Can Do Right Now
Polite letters change nothing. Material pressure is the only thing that moves the needle. Call or email your representatives today and demand they block any local cooperation with this project and pass binding resolutions against the cages.
Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25, Rochester office):
585-232-4850
255 East Ave, Suite 150, Rochester, NY 14607
morelle.house.gov/contact
Senator Chuck Schumer (Rochester office):
585-263-5866
100 State Street, Room 3040, Rochester, NY 14614
schumer.senate.gov/contact
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (main NY offices):
212-688-6262 (New York City)
518-431-0120 (Albany)
gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/email-me
Monroe County Legislature:
Call 585-753-1950 to register to speak (cutoff is 1pm day of the meeting). Meetings are streamed live on the Monroe County Legislature YouTube channel.
NANA Regional Corporation (shareholder pressure for Akima divestment):
907-442-3301 or 800-478-3301 (toll free)
PO Box 49, Kotzebue, AK 99752
nana.com/contact or shareholder portal at nanatkut.com
File formal divestment demands citing the ICE contracts and labor violations.
Show up at Monroe County Legislature meetings. Document everything. Share this post. The more eyes on this, the harder it becomes to hide.
Sources (All Public Record)
Congressman Joe Morelle press release and News10NBC, May 15, 2026
WXXI, WHEC, and Democrat and Chronicle reporting, February through May 2026
GSA contract IDs and DHS IDIQs on usaspending.gov and SAM.gov
GAO reports on ANC 8(a) abuse, 2006 through 2022
Yeend v. Akima labor litigation (ongoing at the Batavia feeder)
Chief Judge Elizabeth Wolford letter to GSA, March 10, 2026
Free childcare center reopens at Monroe County Hall of Justice
This report gives a look into how essential downtown Rochester courthouse daycare facilities are to families navigating the legal system.
The cages are real. The record is public. The contradiction is material. Keep your eyes on ICE.
