The incoming Trump administration is reportedly planning to significantly expand immigrant detention centers as part of its mass deportation initiative. The goal is to double the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention beds from the current 41,000 allocated by Congress, to accommodate a larger number of immigrants awaiting deportation after their arrests. The expansion would also involve reviving family detention, a controversial policy that was halted by the Biden administration in 2021.
Sources familiar with the plans told NBC News that the Trump transition team is evaluating which detention facilities previously closed by the Biden administration could be reopened. They are also considering the use of county jails and temporary facilities to manage the influx of detainees. Special attention is being paid to areas with large migrant populations that lack sufficient detention space, such as Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. Additional facilities may be needed in the Northeast to handle detainees from New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington.
The Trump team has expressed that the presence of sanctuary policies in Democratic-controlled cities should not hinder the expansion of ICE detention in those regions. While the plan is part of Trump’s promised “largest deportation operation in American history,” critics argue that it may face significant logistical challenges, including funding, staffing, international cooperation, and adequate detention capacity.
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