Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its immigrant detention facilities across the United States in order to increase its operations under President Donald Trump.
ICE announced on Wednesday that a facility in New Jersey, which was previously closed, will be reopened and equipped with 1,000 beds. In addition to this, CoreCivic, one of its main contractors, revealed on Thursday morning that it would be creating extra space at its detention facilities in Ohio, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
U.S. military bases are currently being considered as temporary facilities, adding to the recent move.
Why It Matters
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The recent announcements follow President Donald Trump’s decision to dismiss Caleb Vitello, the acting head of ICE. President Trump was reportedly dissatisfied with the sluggish pace of arrests and deportations of illegal immigrants, a promise he had made during his election campaign. The administration has faced criticism from social media users who are unhappy with the figures that ICE has highlighted thus far.
What To Know
ICE acknowledged its limited capacity in its 2024 annual report, highlighting the existence of only 41,000 beds despite the overwhelming number of over 7 million immigrants on its docket. In order to cope with the high demand, ICE emphasized the urgent need for additional funding from Congress to expand capacity and bolster staffing levels in the future.
After Trump’s return to the White House, he made an announcement to increase the detention capacity at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba by adding 30,000 beds. Additionally, his border czar, Tom Homan, emphasized the need for Congress to provide funding for ICE’s operations. It is worth noting that the GOP’s budget allocates over $170 billion to support immigration enforcement efforts.
Where is ICE Expanding?
The GEO Group, one of ICE’s main contractors, has signed a 15-year contract estimated to be worth around $1 billion to operate the Delaney Hall facility in Newark.
ICE made the announcement on Wednesday about the expansion of a 1,000-bed facility. They highlighted it as the first facility to open under the new administration. However, discussions had already begun during former President Joe Biden’s term to bring this facility back into operation.
Outgoing acting ICE director Caleb Vitello expressed in a statement that the proximity of the site to Newark Liberty International Airport would facilitate the agency in streamlining removal procedures.
GEO Group is one of the two primary private prison companies that ICE uses, along with CoreCivic, to oversee its detention facilities. In a recent announcement, GEO revealed its intention to invest $70 million in expansion efforts, with a specific emphasis on enhancing ICE facilities.
CoreCivic made an announcement on Thursday regarding the addition of extra beds at multiple sites. Specifically, 784 beds will be added for ICE detainees at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, Nevada Southern Detention Center, and Cimarron Correctional Facility in Oklahoma.
The company is also considering utilizing a portion of its 2,672 beds at the Tallahatchie Correctional Facility in Mississippi to accommodate illegal immigrants.
According to a memo obtained by NPR, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering the use of military bases, such as Fort Bliss in Texas, to increase detention capacity. The facility at Fort Bliss has the potential to accommodate up to 1,000 immigrants initially, with the possibility of expanding to 10,000 beds in the future.
According to NPR, the memo reveals that there are potentially 10 additional facilities available to be used as holding facilities. These include Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Buffalo, New York, Hill Air Force Base in Utah, and Homestead Air Reserve Base in Miami.
In a surprising announcement made by the President, it was revealed that immigrants with final orders of removal would be housed at Guantanamo Bay. This decision took place at the end of January and has resulted in approximately 200 individuals being temporarily detained at the facility. The majority of these individuals have subsequently been deported to Venezuela.
Immigrants’ rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration due to concerns about the treatment of individuals held in detention centers. They argue that these detainees have been denied access to legal representation and have been unable to communicate with their families. Despite assurances that only the most dangerous individuals would be held in these facilities, it has been revealed that even those without any prior criminal records have been transferred there.
Following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration utilized temporary facilities at military sites to accommodate new arrivals.
According to multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), it was discovered that the company was actively seeking to expand its facilities in the year leading up to the presidential election. Among the potential options for expansion were sites in California, New Mexico, and Washington State.
Can ICE Hold All Immigrants Arrested?
The agency has consistently stated in its reports that it has limited bed space. Despite reaching the President’s goal of 30,000 beds, Guantanamo Bay would not even double its current capacity.
Illegal immigrants typically spend an average of around 40 days in detention before they are either released or deported from the country. In some cases, they may be given GPS tags upon release, but often they are placed on the non-detained docket as they await hearings or final removal.
During debates on the Laken Riley and Justice for Jocelyn Acts in Congress, concerns were raised regarding the requirement for ICE to detain a larger number of illegal immigrants. This raised concerns that some violent offenders may be released into communities.
What People Are Saying
According to a press release by Vitello, he states that the proximity of Delaney Hall to an international airport is beneficial for efficient logistics and timely processing of individuals in their custody. This aligns with President Trump’s directive to apprehend, detain, and remove illegal aliens from our communities.
Newark Mayor Ras J. Barakas expressed his strong opposition to the opening of Delaney Hall in Newark. In a statement to Newsweek, he emphasized that the facility cannot legally open in the city without meeting the necessary requirements for property use, inspections, and permits. Mayor Barakas made it clear that Newark does not welcome an immigrant detention center, and he believes that ICE’s intention to round up “criminals” is merely a disguise for violating people’s rights, undermining the Constitution, and dismantling democracy.
According to a press release by George C. Zoley, Executive Chairman of GEO, he stated, “Our company-owned Delaney Hall Facility will have a crucial role in offering necessary detention bedspace and support services for ICE in the Northeast. We are actively preparing for what we consider to be an unparalleled opportunity to assist the federal government in meeting its heightened immigration enforcement objectives.”
“We are delighted to offer U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with this extra capacity,” stated Damon T. Hininger, the CEO of CoreCivic, in a recent press release. “With a substantial number of beds readily available, we can now provide our government partners with the flexibility they need to meet both their immediate and long-term requirements in a manner that is cost-effective.”
What’s Next
The Trump administration is expected to seek more capacity and resources in order to sustain its efforts for mass deportations in the upcoming months.