Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is altering its approach to expanding detention capacity after facing significant backlash and legal hurdles over its plan to convert warehouses into large-scale detention centers. The agency is now in advanced discussions to purchase existing detention facilities from its major vendors, a move that aims to consolidate populations into larger, more efficient spaces.
Strategic Shift Amid Backlash
ICE’s initial strategy involved renovating warehouses to create expansive detention centers capable of holding thousands of detainees. However, this plan was met with fierce opposition from local communities, Republican officials, and environmental activists. Litigation and stop-work orders have effectively stalled warehouse renovation projects in key locations such as Hagerstown, Maryland, and Surprise, Arizona.
"The broader vision is to develop a nationwide network that consolidates populations in relatively larger facilities that allows them to be able to service the needs of the entire country," said CoreCivic CEO Patrick Swindle.
Turnkey Facility Purchases
In response, ICE is now focusing on acquiring "turnkey" facilities from its largest contractors, CoreCivic and GeoGroup. Both companies currently lease significant portions of ICE’s detention capacity—CoreCivic provides roughly one-quarter of ICE’s beds, while GeoGroup hosts about 25,000 beds. The discussions involve potential sales of multiple facilities, contingent on agreement over pricing and long-term management contracts.
Geo Group chairman and CEO George Zoley confirmed these talks, stating that the transactions could be finalized as early as the second or third quarter of this year. ICE is reportedly looking to purchase up to 10 such facilities to bolster its detention network.
Future of Detention Expansion
The Trump administration has set a goal of reaching 100,000-bed capacity for immigration detention. ICE currently operates approximately 200 facilities nationwide, including partnerships with local jails. The pivot to purchasing existing facilities represents a scaled-back approach to achieving this target, following the shelving of its warehouse renovation initiative.
As ICE navigates legal and logistical challenges, the agency’s strategy underscores the complexities of expanding detention infrastructure in the face of mounting opposition.