DHS Reviews Immigrant Warehouse Contracts, Pauses New Purchases

The Globe and Atlas

Summary

DHS pauses immigrant warehouse contracts for review under new leadership.

Why this matters

This review highlights changes in DHS strategy and its impact on immigration infrastructure amid ongoing debates about detention practices.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has paused the purchase of new warehouses for immigrants while reviewing contracts signed during former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure, a senior DHS official said.

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, noted that already purchased warehouses are also under review.

Mullin has inherited a $38.3 billion plan to enhance detention capacity to 92,000 beds by acquiring eight large detention centers and 16 smaller regional processing centers. Devised under Noem, the plan faced resistance from communities opposed to major Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.

So far, 11 warehouses have been purchased in states including Arizona, Georgia, and Texas, costing $1.074 billion. Lawsuits are ongoing in three states. A Phoenix-area warehouse’s capacity was reduced from a planned 1,500-bed facility to 542 beds, according to Mayor Kevin Sarter.

Local officials often learned about ICE facility plans post-acquisition, causing concern even in areas supportive of Trump. Eight planned deals were canceled when property owners withdrew, particularly in Kansas City, Mo.

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