U.S. to Spend $38.3 Billion to Expand Immigration Detention Capacity

Federal immigration authorities plan to spend $38.3 billion to expand detention capacity to 92,600 beds, according to a document released Friday. The initiative includes purchases of large warehouses, which will be converted into detention and processing facilities by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

One such facility is an 826,780-square-foot warehouse in Socorro, Texas, bought by the Department of Homeland Security for $122.8 million. Officials say these expanded facilities are intended to handle growing detention needs and streamline immigration processing.

ICE has quietly been acquiring properties in multiple states to prepare for this expansion, signaling a major increase in operational capacity. The plan reflects a broader effort to strengthen U.S. immigration enforcement and detention infrastructure.