Alarming Expansion of U.S. Immigrant Detention Network Revealed

Heather Cox Richardson exposes the troubling growth of America's detention facilities for noncitizens

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Heather Cox Richardson's latest post sheds light on the dramatic expansion of the U.S. immigrant detention system under the Trump administration, with the number of detainees surging from 40,000 to over 70,000 across 224 facilities nationwide. The post delves into concerning details, including the termination of a VA program that provided medical care to detainees, and the awarding of a $1.24 billion contract for the Camp East Montana facility in Texas to a small business with little experience managing immigration detention centers.

Why it matters

Richardson's investigation uncovers a troubling trend of the U.S. government rapidly growing its network of immigrant detention centers, raising concerns about civil liberties, due process, and the treatment of vulnerable populations, including children, in these facilities.

The details

According to Richardson's reporting, the Trump administration has dramatically expanded the immigrant detention system, with the number of detainees increasing from around 40,000 to over 70,000 across 224 facilities nationwide. This expansion has occurred despite concerns about the conditions and oversight of these detention centers. For example, the Camp East Montana facility in Texas has been found to have violated at least 60 federal standards for immigrant detention, yet the $1.24 billion contract for the facility was awarded to a small business with little experience managing such facilities.

  • In 2023, Alabama Republican senator Tommy Tuberville falsely claimed that President Joe Biden was 'robbing veterans to pay off illegals'.
  • On September 30, 2025, a small right-wing nonprofit sued to get documents from the Trump administration about the VA's role in providing medical care to detainees.
  • On October 3, 2025, the VA abruptly terminated its agreement with ICE, leaving the agency without a way to provide prescribed medication or access off-site care for detainees.

The players

Heather Cox Richardson

A professor of history and a prominent political commentator who has been shedding light on the expansion of the U.S. immigrant detention system.

Tommy Tuberville

An Alabama Republican senator who falsely claimed that President Biden was 'robbing veterans to pay off illegals' in 2023, leading to the termination of the VA's agreement to provide medical care to ICE detainees.

Joe Biden

The President of the United States during the period covered in the story.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States whose administration oversaw the dramatic expansion of the immigrant detention system.

Laura Strickler and Julia Ainsley

Reporters for NBC News who provided data on the current number of immigrants being held in detention facilities across the United States.

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What they’re saying

“Yesterday two right-wing circuit judges signed off on the Trump administrations new mass detention policy: the extraordinary assertion that vast numbers of noncitizens throughout the country can be arrested and held in detention centers without the right to release until they are deported.”

— Heather Cox Richardson (democraticunderground.com)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The article does not mention any clear next steps or future newsworthy events related to this story.

The takeaway

Richardson's investigation into the rapid expansion of the U.S. immigrant detention system under the Trump administration raises serious concerns about civil liberties, due process, and the treatment of vulnerable populations in these facilities. The termination of the VA's medical care program for detainees further exacerbates these issues, highlighting the need for greater oversight and accountability in the management of these detention centers.