ICE set to spend $38 billion on 16 warehouses for detention centers, each housing 1,000–1,500 detainees

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced a significant investment of $38.3 billion aimed at converting 16 warehouses into detention centers. Each facility is designed to accommodate between 1,000 to 1,500 detainees, reflecting an ongoing effort to expand the U.S. government's capacity for immigration enforcement. This initiative comes amid increasing scrutiny over the conditions within existing detention centers, raising concerns among human rights advocates and immigration reformers. The decision to repurpose warehouses is part of a broader strategy to address the growing number of individuals in the immigration system, particularly as the government seeks to manage backlogs and streamline processing. While ICE asserts that this expansion will improve the efficiency and security of detainee management, critics argue that it represents a troubling trend towards the commodification of detention and may exacerbate existing issues related to the treatment of detainees. As the plan unfolds, stakeholders will be closely monitoring its implications for both detainees and the broader immigration landscape in the United States.