Reps. Frost, Soto Urge DHS to Halt Plans for Orlando ICE Facility

Lawmakers cite concerns over facility's inadequate conditions and risks to human life.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

U.S. Representatives Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto have written a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, strongly opposing plans to open a new ICE detention center in Orlando. The lawmakers cite concerns over the facility's inadequate conditions, risks to human life, and the negative impact on local families.

Why it matters

The proposed ICE facility has sparked significant backlash from local officials and residents, who fear it will propagate suffering and create an atmosphere of fear in the community. This issue highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local concerns over human rights and community well-being.

The details

Frost and Soto's letter states that the warehouse being considered for the ICE facility is not zoned for human residence and is inadequate to accommodate waste management and general habitation. They also express concerns about the risks to human life and safety should the facility be hit by natural disasters, given the 'deplorable conditions at other ICE facilities'.

  • On February 8, 2026, Reps. Frost and Soto sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons.
  • Last week, Naples U.S. Rep. and GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds visited the proposed site and voiced support for the facility.

The players

Maxwell Frost

U.S. Representative for Florida's 10th congressional district, a Democrat.

Darren Soto

U.S. Representative for Florida's 9th congressional district, a Democrat.

Kristi Noem

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Todd Lyons

Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Byron Donalds

U.S. Representative for Florida's 19th congressional district and GOP gubernatorial candidate.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We write to strongly and unequivocally oppose the opening of a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Central Florida. We do not need additional ICE facilities to accompany the excessive immigration enforcement within our state that is being used to tear local families apart.”

— Maxwell Frost and Darren Soto, U.S. Representatives (orlandoweekly.com)

“When you are going to deport millions of criminal illegals out of our country, it is a major logistical effort. You have to be able to house people, process them properly. Prepare them to leave the country. It's not just something that you snap your fingers and it happens overnight. It is an orderly process that must happen.”

— Byron Donalds, U.S. Representative and GOP gubernatorial candidate (orlandoweekly.com)

What’s next

If Homeland Security does open an ICE facility in Orlando, local officials are powerless to stop them, as ICE is 'immune from any local regulation that interferes in any way with its federal mandate' according to the city attorney.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local concerns over human rights and community well-being. The proposed ICE facility has sparked significant backlash, with lawmakers and local officials voicing strong opposition to the plan.