The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to renovate industrial warehouses to accommodate more than 80,000 immigrant detainees. According to a report by The Washington Post, the renovation plans include a facility in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The draft solicitation reveals efforts by the Trump administration to revamp the immigrant detention system across the country.
ICE intends to create a centralized system utilizing these warehouses, instead of relocating detainees to various locations with available detention space. New arrivals will first be processed at designated sites before being directed to one of seven large warehouses. Each of these facilities is designed to hold between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals, with an additional 16 smaller warehouses capable of accommodating up to 1,500 people each. One of the smaller facilities is planned for Tremont, Pennsylvania, which is a short drive from Pottsville.
The draft acquisition document indicates that one of the larger warehouses will be situated in Hagerstown, Maryland, just south of the Pennsylvania border. While the Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed the information reported by The Post, a spokesperson declined to provide further details regarding the proposal.
The internal email reviewed by The Post indicated that ICE aims to share the solicitation with private detention companies within the week. The purpose of the overhaul is 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.”
The proposed facilities will include various amenities such as intake areas, housing units, dining spaces, medical units, and recreation areas. Previous reports by NBC and Bloomberg have discussed the possibility of constructing these warehouses, but specific site plans had not been disclosed until now.
The initiative reflects a significant shift in how the U.S. government intends to manage immigrant detention, with a focus on streamlining processes and enhancing operational capabilities. As discussions continue and plans evolve, the implications for detainees and local communities remain to be seen.
