Trump's $45 billion expansion of immigrant detention sites faces pushback from communities

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trumps-45-billion-expansion-immigrant-detention-sites-faces-pushback-c-rcna257228

Trump's $45 billion expansion of immigrant detention sites faces pushback from communities

Feb. 3, 2026, 7:09 AM PST / Source: The Associated Press
By The Associated Press

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More than 70,000 immigrants were being detained by ICE as of late December, up from 40,000 when Trump took office, according to federal data.

In a little over a year, the number of detention facilities used by ICE nearly doubled to 212 sites spread across 47 states and territories. Most of that growth came through existing contracts with the U.S. Marshals Service or deals to use empty beds at county jails.

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Trump's administration now is taking steps to open more large-scale facilities. In January, ICE paid $102 million for a warehouse in Washington County, Maryland, $84 million for one in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and more than $70 million for one in Surprise, Arizona. It also solicited public comment on a proposed warehouse purchase in a flood plain in Chester, New York.

Federal immigration officials have toured large warehouses elsewhere, without releasing many details about the efforts.

"They will be very well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards," ICE said in a statement, adding: "It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space."

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(In a flood plain …our regular detention standards …)