WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is moving to sell or transfer several warehouses that had been acquired for use as large-scale immigrant detention centers, marking a significant retreat from a plan designed to rapidly expand federal detention capacity, according to court filings, Department of Homeland Security statements and reports by U.S. media outlets.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to offload seven of 11 warehouse properties purchased or leased as part of a broader detention expansion initiative launched under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to documents cited by multiple news organizations. The facilities were acquired in states including Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Utah and New Jersey.
The shift follows months of legal challenges, regulatory hurdles and opposition from local officials and community groups. Federal authorities informed a judge this week that a warehouse in Romulus, Michigan, would be sold, while plans for facilities in Social Circle, Georgia, and Socorro, Texas, have also been scaled back or revised, according to court records and local officials.
The warehouse initiative was part of a larger effort to increase detention space for immigrants awaiting deportation proceedings. Earlier plans called for spending tens of billions of dollars to expand detention infrastructure and potentially house tens of thousands of detainees, according to previously reported government documents and administration proposals.
The Department of Homeland Security did not publicly confirm the exact number of properties slated for disposal but said in a statement that it is “moving swiftly to utilize EXISTING detention space with our state and county partners.” The department added that individuals arrested for immigration violations should be removed from the country “at lightning speed” rather than remain in detention for extended periods.
Markwayne Mullin, who succeeded Noem as homeland security secretary earlier this year, paused additional warehouse acquisitions while reviewing the program. During his confirmation process, Mullin cited concerns about infrastructure requirements, including water and wastewater capacity at some proposed sites.
Opposition to the warehouse plan came from both Republican- and Democratic-led communities. Local officials questioned whether the facilities could be supported by existing infrastructure, while lawsuits challenged environmental reviews and permitting processes. An internal audit was also launched after questions were raised about the prices paid for some properties, according to reports.
As of Thursday, DHS had not released a timetable for the sale or transfer of the properties. Several warehouse projects remain under review, and officials said the administration will continue evaluating existing detention facilities and partnerships as it pursues its immigration enforcement agenda.
