US Immigration Authorities Unveil $38 Billion Plan to Sharply Expand Detention Network
US immigration authorities have announced a comprehensive plan to dramatically expand detention capacity by the end of 2026, allocating a substantial $38 billion for the acquisition and renovation of facilities. This initiative, detailed in newly released government documents, represents a significant shift in immigration enforcement infrastructure.
Major Capacity Increase and Strategic Reengineering
The ambitious plan aims to raise Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) bed capacity to approximately 92,600. This expansion comes as the agency anticipates increased enforcement operations and arrests in 2026. According to the "ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative" document cited by Reuters, this new model will create a more efficient detention network by reducing the total number of contracted facilities while simultaneously increasing total bed capacity.
The document states: "This new model will allow ICE to create an efficient detention network by reducing the total number of contracted detention facilities in use while increasing total bed capacity, enhancing custody management, and streamlining removal operations."
Comprehensive Facility Development Strategy
ICE's detailed implementation plan includes multiple facility types designed for different detention purposes:
- Regional Processing Centers: The agency intends to purchase 16 existing buildings and convert them into regional processing centers capable of holding between 1,000 and 1,500 detainees each, with average stays of three to seven days.
- Large Detention Centers: ICE plans to open eight large detention centers capable of holding between 7,000 and 10,000 detainees for an average stay of around 60 days. These will serve as the "primary location" for immigrants being deported abroad.
- Turnkey Facilities: The agency also plans to acquire 10 more "turnkey" facilities where it already operates, according to the comprehensive plan.
ICE aims to have all new facilities operational by November 30, 2026, marking a tight implementation timeline for this massive infrastructure project.
Facility Renovations and Humanitarian Considerations
The renovation plans are extensive and comprehensive. ICE plans to hire contractors to renovate the buildings to create complete detention spaces, including:
- Medical and dental facilities
- Cafeterias and food service areas
- Lobbies and administrative spaces
- Recreational areas for detainees
- Dormitories and sleeping quarters
- Courtroom spaces for legal proceedings
The plan explicitly states that these facilities are intended to ensure the "safe and humane civil detention of aliens," addressing concerns about detention conditions that have been raised in recent years.
Funding and Political Context
The detention centers will be funded through a major spending package passed by the Republican-controlled Congress in July 2025. The legislation, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," allocated $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including $45 billion specifically for detention infrastructure.
This represents a dramatic increase from previous funding levels. By comparison, the 2024 fiscal year budget included only $3.4 billion for immigration detention, highlighting the scale of this expansion.
Historical Context and Current Enforcement Trends
The expansion comes against a backdrop of increasing detention populations. ICE held about 40,000 people in detention when President Trump took office, with the population increasing significantly since then amid reports of overcrowding and capacity challenges.
Despite political headwinds ahead of next year's midterm elections, the Trump administration is moving to intensify immigration enforcement this year, with this detention expansion plan representing a key component of that strategy. The plan suggests a long-term commitment to expanded detention capacity regardless of immediate political considerations.
The $38 billion investment in detention infrastructure represents one of the largest single investments in immigration enforcement facilities in US history, signaling a fundamental shift in how the country approaches immigration detention and enforcement operations.
