In a bold move, the administration announced a $38.3‑billion initiative that will reshape how migrants are detained across the country. Dubbed the Detention Reengineering Initiative, the plan aims to streamline operations and accelerate deportations by building a new network of purpose‑built facilities.
Under the proposal, the government will acquire and renovate eight large‑scale detention centers, add 16 new processing sites, and take control of 10 existing “turnkey” facilities already operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The biggest of these centers could hold up to 10,000 people, primarily for international removals.
“This new model will allow ICE to create an efficient detention network by reducing the total number of contracted facilities while increasing bed capacity, enhancing custody management, and streamlining removal operations,” officials said in documents released to the public.
ICE’s plan would add 92,600 beds and is slated for full implementation by November. Funding is expected to come from congressional allocations under a recent legislative package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Today, ICE relies on a patchwork of state, county, local jails, and private facilities to hold people in immigration custody. As of February, nearly 70,000 migrants were detained nationwide.
Last year, the administration expanded its detention capacity by building large tent complexes, including a state‑run site in the Florida Everglades and a $1.3‑billion tent complex on a West Texas military base. Those facilities have faced scrutiny over alleged inhumane conditions.
The new strategy shifts toward larger, purpose‑built sites, allowing ICE to consolidate its footprint and reduce reliance on smaller, short‑term contracts. At the same time, the agency has ramped up arrest efforts, signing agreements that grant local police and sheriffs immigration arrest authority and launching enforcement surges in Democratic‑run cities.
One notable operation was “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota, where about 3,000 agents—including Customs and Border Protection tactical officers and Border Patrol agents—were deployed. The surge drew local opposition, accusations of excessive force, and ultimately resulted in two U.S. citizens being shot and killed during confrontations.
This week, the administration announced an end to the Minnesota surge. During the two‑month operation, agents made more than 4,000 arrests. Even with these numbers, the agency remains far from its goal of 1 million arrests and deportations. Since the start of the fiscal year in October, ICE has deported roughly 162,000 people.
The proposed overhaul has sparked concerns among local communities and political leaders across the country. For instance, a senator from Mississippi urged the department to reconsider building a new detention center in Byhalia, arguing that the site was earmarked for economic development and that converting it would foreclose other growth opportunities.
As the plan moves forward, it will be clear whether this ambitious transformation delivers on its promise to create a more efficient, humane, and streamlined detention system.
