Trump Officials Want to Hold Migrants in Huge Warehouses

The Trump administration is considering a dramatic expansion of immigration detention that would resemble a nationwide logistics network more than a traditional prison system. A draft government solicitation obtained by The Washington Post shows that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is exploring contracts to convert large industrial warehouses into high-capacity detention centers capable of holding more than 80,000 people at a time.

Under the proposal, migrants would first be sent to regional processing hubs before being transferred to a network of massive warehouse-style facilities. The plan outlines seven large sites designed to hold between 5,000 and 10,000 detainees each, along with 16 smaller centers with capacity for up to 1,500 people apiece. The facilities would be located near major logistics corridors in states including Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Louisiana, and Arizona, with the stated goal of speeding up deportations.

ICE intends to circulate the solicitation to private detention contractors to further develop the concept. The document describes a business-oriented overhaul meant to “maximize efficiency, minimize costs, shorten processing times,” and “accelerate the removal process.” Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons compared the idea earlier this year to Amazon’s delivery system, saying in April that the goal was “like Prime, but with human beings.”

The proposal builds on a record detention population, which topped 68,000 people earlier this month. Nearly half of those detained have no criminal convictions or pending charges. The administration says it has deported close to 580,000 people over the past year, and Congress has already allocated about $45 billion for detention operations.

Critics argue that converting warehouses into mass detention centers raises serious ethical and logistical concerns. Real estate experts note that such buildings are designed for storage, not long-term human occupancy, and often lack adequate ventilation, climate control, and plumbing for thousands of residents.

“It’s dehumanizing,” said Tania Wolf of the National Immigration Project, who argued that the approach treats detainees “like cattle.” Bloomberg has reported that two large detention facilities already operating in Texas and Florida have drawn complaints over allegedly inhumane conditions. ICE says the proposed centers would include showers, medical facilities, and family housing, but former agency officials warn that recruiting and training enough qualified staff could be a major challenge.

The draft plan does not set a firm launch date but states that each facility would need to be ready to receive detainees within 30 to 60 days after construction begins.

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