ICE Rapidly Expands Offices Across US, Skirting Usual Procedures

Federal records show over 150 new leases and office expansions for ICE and DHS, often near sensitive locations like schools and places of worship.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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According to federal records obtained by WIRED, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been rapidly expanding their physical presence across the country, securing over 150 new leases and office expansions in recent years. Many of these new facilities are located near sensitive locations like schools, medical offices, and places of worship, raising concerns about their proximity to vulnerable populations.

Why it matters

This aggressive expansion of ICE's physical footprint across the U.S. comes as the agency has more than doubled in size since President Trump took office in 2025. Critics argue the agency is skirting usual government lease procurement procedures and even hiding lease listings due to national security concerns, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

The details

The documents reveal that ICE and DHS are placing new facilities in nearly every state, often in or just outside of the country's largest metropolitan areas. For example, in El Paso, Texas, the agency is moving into a large campus of buildings near local health providers and other businesses, while in Philadelphia, ICE plans to share office space with a central DMV location. In a wealthy community near Houston, ICE appears poised to move into an office building blocks away from a preschool.

  • Since President Donald Trump took office in 2025, ICE has more than doubled in size.
  • The General Services Administration, which manages federal buildings and functions as the government's internal IT department, is playing a critical role in this aggressive expansion.

The players

ICE

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has been rapidly expanding its physical presence across the country.

DHS

The Department of Homeland Security, which has been working with ICE on this expansion campaign.

General Services Administration

The federal agency that manages government buildings and IT, and is playing a key role in facilitating ICE's rapid expansion by disregarding usual lease procurement procedures.

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The takeaway

This rapid expansion of ICE's physical presence across the U.S., often in sensitive locations and with a lack of transparency, raises significant concerns about the agency's growing reach and the potential impact on vulnerable communities.