Stealth ICE Detention Centers Planned in Over 20 Communities

Mayors, local officials blindsided as DHS quietly buys warehouses to expand immigration detention capacity.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In a growing number of communities across the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security has been quietly purchasing large warehouses to convert into new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, often without notifying local officials until after the deals are finalized. This stealth expansion of ICE's detention capacity, funded by a recent budget increase, has sparked outrage and concerns from mayors, county commissioners, and members of Congress who fear the facilities could overwhelm local resources and reduce tax revenue.

Why it matters

The secretive nature of ICE's warehouse acquisition strategy has left many communities feeling blindsided and powerless to oppose the plans. There are growing concerns about the human rights implications of rapidly expanding immigration detention, as well as the potential strain on local infrastructure and budgets. The issue has become politically charged, with some traditionally pro-Trump areas now objecting to the detention center plans.

The details

ICE has purchased at least seven warehouses in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas, with plans for as many as 24 new large-scale detention centers capable of housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees each, plus 16 smaller regional processing centers. The $38.3 billion project is being funded through a recent increase in DHS's budget. In many cases, local officials only learned of the plans after the warehouses had already been purchased or leased. Communities fear the facilities could overwhelm water, sewer, and other municipal services, while also reducing local tax revenue.

  • In February 2026, the governor's office in New Hampshire released a document showing ICE's plans to spend $38.3 billion to boost detention capacity to 92,000 beds.
  • Since President Trump took office in 2017, the number of people detained by ICE has increased from 40,000 to 75,000 across more than 225 sites.

The players

Rudy Cruz Jr.

The mayor of Socorro, Texas, a town near the U.S.-Mexico border where ICE purchased three large warehouses to convert into a detention center.

Christian Leinbach

A commissioner in Berks County, Pennsylvania, who was caught off guard when he learned ICE had purchased a warehouse in his county, raising concerns about the loss of local tax revenue.

Kris Mayes

The Democratic Attorney General of Arizona, who raised the prospect of going to court to have an ICE detention center site in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise declared a public nuisance.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody from the federal government bothered to pick up the phone or even send us any type of correspondence letting us know what's about to take place.”

— Rudy Cruz Jr., Mayor of Socorro, Texas (Fortune)

“To be clear, the City has repeatedly communicated that it does not have the capacity or resources to accommodate this demand, and no proposal presented to date has demonstrated otherwise.”

— Social Circle, Georgia, City statement (Fortune)

“If you don't at least try, you will end up with another inhumane detention facility built in your jurisdiction and under your watch.”

— Eduardo Castillo, Former U.S. Department of Justice attorney (Fortune)

What’s next

Local officials in the affected communities are exploring legal options to challenge ICE's warehouse acquisition plans, though the agency's use of military contracts gives it significant leeway to move forward quickly. Advocacy groups are also mobilizing to raise awareness and opposition to the expansion of immigration detention capacity.

The takeaway

The secretive nature of ICE's warehouse purchases has left many communities feeling powerless to stop the rapid expansion of immigration detention infrastructure, raising concerns about the human rights implications as well as the potential strain on local resources and budgets. This issue has become politically charged, with even some traditionally pro-Trump areas now objecting to the detention center plans.