The Trump administration is reportedly planning to significantly increase the capacity of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities by repurposing warehouses to hold around 80,000 immigrants. Documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reviewed by The Washington Post indicate that these industrial spaces will be renovated to expedite the deportation process for undocumented immigrants.

As the second Trump administration progresses, DHS has faced challenges in increasing deportation numbers, partly due to insufficient detention space. During his first term, President Donald Trump faced substantial criticism for his immigration policies, which included controversial practices such as family separations and the detention of children in inadequate conditions.

The DHS plans to establish a systematic deportation process, with warehouses located near the sites of detention, thereby reducing the need to transfer detainees to larger facilities in southern states. Proposed locations for these warehouses include Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia, with smaller facilities planned for New York, New Jersey, Utah, and Michigan.

This draft plan, like other federal initiatives, will undergo review and potential modification. However, it reflects ongoing efforts by ICE to expand its detention capabilities. Earlier this year, the agency outlined plans to reopen previously closed detention centers, enlarge existing ones, and utilize military bases as temporary holding sites. This expansion is supported by a significant increase in ICE's budget, attributed to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump in July.

Key figures in the administration, including Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and advisors such as border czar Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, have emphasized their goal of achieving record deportation numbers, targeting what they describe as the "worst of the worst" among undocumented immigrants. However, concrete data on deportations has been scarce, with an ambitious target of 600,000 removals set by Homan lacking official DHS verification.

Concerns have been raised by members of Congress, particularly Democrats, regarding the rapid expansion of ICE and the apparent lack of oversight associated with it. The use of warehouses for detention has prompted additional scrutiny, as these facilities are typically designed for storing goods rather than housing individuals, potentially leading to inadequate conditions regarding insulation, ventilation, and security. Plans reviewed by The Washington Post indicate that modifications will be made to include necessary amenities such as intake areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and recreation spaces.

DHS has asserted that individuals in detention, regardless of the type of facility, will receive high-quality medical care, food, and access to legal counsel. However, the rapid expansion of ICE's detention capacity continues to raise questions about the treatment of detainees and the overall approach to immigration enforcement.