Republicans Oppose Immigrant Detention Centers in Their Backyards

GOP lawmakers join Democrats in fighting DHS plans to convert warehouses into massive detention facilities across the country

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:27pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Republican lawmakers, including governors and senators, have joined local Democrats in opposing the Department of Homeland Security's plans to convert warehouses into large-scale immigrant detention centers in their communities. Despite previously supporting increased immigration enforcement and detention funding, GOP officials are now voicing concerns about the strain these facilities would place on local resources and infrastructure.

Why it matters

The growing Republican opposition to the administration's plans to rapidly expand immigrant detention capacity highlights the tensions between the party's tough-on-immigration rhetoric and the practical realities of hosting such facilities in their own backyards. This backlash could complicate the administration's efforts to fulfill its mass deportation agenda.

The details

DHS plans to retrofit 34 warehouses across the country into detention centers, including 8 'mega-sites' that could each hold up to 10,000 people. This would more than double the current federal immigrant detention capacity. However, Republican officials in states like New Hampshire, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Pennsylvania have pushed back, citing concerns about the impact on local resources and infrastructure. Some have even taken steps to block or delay the construction of these facilities.

  • Last year, congressional Republicans provided $45 billion in funding specifically for ICE detention.
  • In March 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin agreed to work with local communities concerned about large detention centers during his confirmation hearing.

The players

Kelly Ayotte

The Republican governor of New Hampshire who released documents about a now-canceled immigrant detention site planned for Merrimack, as well as sites across the rest of the country.

Marsha Blackburn

A Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee who petitioned DHS to halt plans for a mega-detention center in Lebanon that could hold up to 16,000 immigrants.

Roger Wicker

A Republican U.S. Senator from Mississippi who wrote a letter to the former Homeland Security Secretary asking ICE to look elsewhere for a proposed 8,500-bed detention center in the rural town of Byhalia.

Eric Taylor

The city manager for Social Circle, Georgia, who placed a lock on a water meter to prevent access to a warehouse purchased by ICE for a large-scale detention facility.

Josh Shapiro

The Democratic governor of Pennsylvania who said he would use his legal and regulatory power to prevent ICE detention centers from being sited in the state.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm all for helping DHS, and I'm behind that to make sure we get rid of these illegal criminals that have been throughout our country, but I also understand Social Circle's concerns, from not just the infrastructure but the resources that may be needed.”

— Mike Collins, U.S. Representative

“To hear from Republicans and Democrats alike expressing opposition to this, I think speaks volumes about how unwanted these facilities are in our communities.”

— Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania

What’s next

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has pledged to personally visit the proposed detention facility in Roxbury, New Jersey, if confirmed.

The takeaway

The Republican backlash against the administration's plans to rapidly expand immigrant detention capacity in rural communities highlights the tensions between the party's tough-on-immigration rhetoric and the practical realities of hosting such facilities. This opposition could complicate the administration's efforts to fulfill its mass deportation agenda.