ICE plans to spend $38.3B to turn warehouses into detention centers

WASHINGTON, DC: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning a big change to its detention system with a $38.3 billion project. The goal is to increase space across the country and support what the agency calls ongoing deportations. The plan is to make a warehouse turn into a detention center.

ICE plans to buy and convert 16 buildings into regional centers. Each center will be able to hold 1,000 to 1,500 detainees. A memo from Thursday, February 12, called the "ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative," says ICE plans to have the new system running by the end of fiscal 2026. The plan would bring the total bed capacity to 92,600.

The plan also includes updating eight large detention centers, 16 processing sites, and 10 existing facilities that are already used by Enforcement and Removal Operations.

ICE unveils $38.3 billion detention expansion plan

ICE plans to turn industrial-style buildings into large detention centers across the country, with one possible site near Hagerstown, Maryland. The proposal includes 8 major centers, each able to hold 7,000 to 10,000 detainees for around 60 days, serving as the main locations for international deportations. 

Smaller regional processing sites would hold people for 3 to 7 days before they are moved to the larger facilities. According to the documents, the extra detention space is needed because ICE is hiring more agents and expects more arrests, as per Newsmax. 

With a $38 billion budget, the plan aims to make deportations more organized by guiding detainees through large centers instead of any available facility. Officials have raised worries about logistics and how people in custody will be treated.

A proposed site in Merrimack, New Hampshire, would cover 324,395 square feet and hold 400 to 600 detainees. ICE said these sites are meant to be part of its long-term detention solution.

According to the agency’s memo, the new detention model is meant to make detention and removal operations more efficient while cutting down on the total number of contracted facilities ICE currently uses.

New facilities to support surge in arrests

The proposal comes as ICE expands its workforce. The agency says a surge‑hiring effort has added 12,000 new officers, and extra detention space will be needed for more arrests in 2026.

Officials plan to have all new facilities operating by November 30 to increase detention capacity nationwide.

ICE said all facilities will follow National Detention Standards and federal laws, including NEPA. Utilities are enough to support operations, and backup systems like micro‑grids are in place if needed.