ICE plan would house up to 80,000 migrants in warehouse detention hubs near Dallas

National news organizations looked at planning papers that showed a possible federal plan to turn industrial warehouses near Dallas and other transportation hubs into huge immigration detention centers that could hold more than 80,000 migrants at once.

The papers describe a giant network of jails that would use repurposed buildings to speed up the deportations and processing of immigrants. U.S. authorities would catch new immigrants at these locations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would first go through short-term processing sites. They'd be sent to regional warehouses, some of which can hold thousands of people waiting to be deported. They would then be sent to regional warehouse centers, some of which are big enough to hold thousands of people while they wait to be deported.

NBC News reported earlier that the administration wanted to speed up removals by using big warehouses near airports and freight corridors. This implies that the administration would view detention as a logistical challenge. According to the story, federal officials looked into buying or renting buildings that are about the same size as commercial fulfillment centers.

A draft request for proposals sent to private contractors for comments led to more information coming to light. The document suggests turning old factories into seven big detention centers, each with room for 5,000 to 10,000 people, and sixteen smaller processing centers, each with room for up to 1,500 people.

The draft lists possible sites in several states, such as Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri. The request for proposals describes the method as a way to "maximize efficiency" in its use in detention and deportation. Officials said the document was just a draft and that they have not yet asked for official bids.

Reports from the government and former ICE officials have raised worries that adding this many more beds could put a strain on staffing, medical care, and safety standards. The Post said that ICE already runs a big tent holding center at Fort Bliss in West Texas, but it has had trouble meeting its staffing goals.

The procurement records for the building plan have also caused a lot of debate. According to The Guardian, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation said it would try to back out of a deal to give a tribal business a $30 million contract, which caused a lot of discontent.

Some local officials and civil rights activists say that turning warehouses meant to store goods into detention centers could violate basic human rights and add extra work to the towns that are hosting the immigrants. Some people are worried that putting big detention centers nearby will put more stress on the local courts, infrastructure, and public services.

The plan is still just a draft, but the size of it suggests that the way the federal government holds people may be changing. When considering cities and counties as potential sites, they must contend with zoning reviews, infrastructure requirements, and likely legal challenges. Civil rights groups say they are getting ready for more control if the plan goes through.

The federal government has not said what the next steps are in public, but politicians and community leaders in Texas and other places are already looking into it.