The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to expand its immigrant detention capacity significantly by renovating industrial warehouses across the country, according to a report by The Washington Post. The plan could accommodate more than 80,000 detainees, with one of the proposed sites located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
The draft solicitation obtained by the newspaper reveals that the Trump administration is seeking contractors to assist in overhauling the nation’s immigrant detention system. Instead of relocating detainees to various facilities nationwide, ICE intends to create a “feeder system” through these warehouses. New detainees would first be processed at designated sites before being funneled into one of seven large warehouses, each with a capacity ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 individuals. Additionally, there will be 16 smaller warehouses, each capable of holding up to 1,500 people. One of these smaller facilities would be situated in Tremont, Pennsylvania, a short drive southwest from Pottsville.
Another significant site will be established in Hagerstown, Maryland, just south of the Pennsylvania border. The Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed the specifics of the report, as a spokesperson declined to answer questions regarding the plan. Although the draft solicitation is not final, an internal email reviewed by The Washington Post indicated that ICE would share the solicitation with private detention companies imminently.
The draft outlines that the facilities will aim to “maximize efficiency, minimize costs, shorten processing times, limit lengths of stay, accelerate the removal process, and promote safety, dignity, and respect for all in ICE custody.” Modifications to the warehouses will include the addition of intake areas, housing units, dining facilities, a medical unit, and recreational spaces.
Prior reports from NBC and Bloomberg had mentioned discussions about constructing these warehouses, but specific site plans were only recently disclosed by The Washington Post. This initiative reflects a broader strategy by ICE to manage the increasing number of immigrants in detention, as current facilities are often at capacity.
As ICE moves forward with this project, the implications for the immigrant community and local economies remain to be seen. The expansion raises questions about the treatment of detainees and the overall effectiveness of the detention system in the United States.
