Federal Immigration Officials Expand Detention Facility Plans Across the U.S.

Wed Feb 04 2026 03:38:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is actively scouting and purchasing warehouses for conversion into detention and processing facilities, facing significant local opposition and regulatory challenges in various states.

Federal immigration authorities are in the process of acquiring warehouses for new detention facilities, facing backlash from local governments and communities concerned about the legal implications and potential impacts of these developments. Cities like Kansas City and Indiana have instituted moratoriums to halt non-city-run detention facilities, while other areas express their opposition amid a lack of federal transparency regarding the plans.

Federal immigration officials are scouting warehouses and beginning to purchase some of them to transform into detention and processing facilities.

Some warehouse owners have decided not to sell to Immigration and Customs Enforcement under pressure from elected officials and advocates. Some cities are issuing statements urging ICE to look elsewhere, and Kansas City has passed a moratorium on non-city-run detention facilities.

ICE has offered few specifics, even to the cities, but said in a statement that the sites wouldn’t be warehouses but “well-structured detention facilities” and said it should come as no surprise that the agency is working to expand detention space.

Recent Developments in Various States

Arizona: ICE paid $70 million last month for a vast warehouse facility on the northwestern outskirts of Phoenix. The city of Surprise expressed it was unaware of the transaction and not contacted by any parties involved.

Florida: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer stated that the city has no legal recourse to stop a potential ICE facility after federal officials were seen touring a large industrial warehouse.

Indiana: The town council in Merrillville recently passed a resolution opposing ICE's plans for a warehouse conversion, citing a lack of communication from federal agencies.

Maryland: A deed indicated that ICE purchased a warehouse in the state to serve as a processing facility, raising community concerns over local zoning overrides.

Minnesota: In the suburbs near Minneapolis, local warehouse owners have withdrawn interest in possible ICE deals due to public outcry against such facilities.

Mississippi: Federal officials scouted a building in Marshall County, but local officials were not given prior notice about the visit.

Missouri: Kansas City passed a five-year moratorium on non-city detention facilities; city officials report ICE was viewing a large warehouse during the same time.

New Hampshire: Merrimack expressed concerns about federal plans that could undermine local tax revenues without receiving a direct response from ICE.

New Jersey: Roxbury council voted against a potential ICE facility after local zoning laws were cited as barriers.

New York: Elected officials are pushing back against plans for an ICE facility in Chester, with concerns regarding environmental impact and local support.

Oklahoma: Mayor David Holt announced that acquisition talks for a warehouse by ICE were no longer in progress after local opposition gathered.

Pennsylvania: ICE purchased a large warehouse without prior notification to county officials, raising concerns about future plans for its use.

Texas: El Paso County expressed its opposition towards potential ICE facility developments as federal interest in local warehousing grows.

Utah: The mayor of Salt Lake City welcomed news that owners of a warehouse opted not to proceed with selling to ICE after local opposition.

Virginia: Hanover County is considering legal options against ICE's intent to establish a processing facility amidst community concerns about zoning and financial impact.

This situation reveals a critical junction where community voices are pushing back against federal agency developments designed to increase immigration enforcement capacity.