DHS Pauses New ICE Warehouse Purchases to Review Noem‑Era Detention Contracts
The Department of Homeland Security has paused purchases of new immigrant‑detention warehouses while it reviews all contracts signed under former Secretary Kristi Noem, part of an inherited $38.3 billion plan to reach 92,000 detention beds through eight mega‑centers and 16 regional processing hubs. To date 11 warehouses have been bought in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah at a combined cost of $1.074 billion, with lawsuits pending in three states, at least one facility in Surprise, Arizona seeing planned capacity cut from 1,500 to 542 beds, and many local officials saying they learned of plans only after deals were executed, prompting bipartisan backlash over secrecy and local infrastructure strain.
📌 Key Facts
- The Department of Homeland Security has paused purchases of new immigrant‑detention warehouses and is reviewing all warehouse contracts signed under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
- The pause targets facilities tied to an inherited $38.3 billion plan to reach 92,000 detention beds through eight “mega‑centers” (7,000–10,000 beds each) and 16 regional processing hubs.
- Eleven warehouse facilities have already been purchased in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah at a combined cost of $1.074 billion.
- Lawsuits are pending in three states where warehouses were bought, and at least one planned facility in Surprise, Arizona, has had its planned capacity reduced from 1,500 to 542 occupied beds.
- Many local officials say they only learned of ICE’s plans after purchases or leases were executed, prompting bipartisan backlash over secrecy and concerns about strain on local infrastructure and services.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, the surge in immigration led to a direct increase in state and local revenues of $10.1 billion, primarily from sales taxes, but also increased spending of $19.3 billion, resulting in a net cost of $9.2 billion to state and local budgets.
Effects of the Surge in Immigration on State and Local Budgets in 2023 — Congressional Budget Office
Private prison companies CoreCivic and The GEO Group reported $2 billion in revenue in 2025, a 13% increase, largely attributed to expanded ICE detention contracts.
'If You Can Keep It': The Private Companies Profiting Off ICE — NPR
Border officials encountered 11 million unauthorized migrants attempting to enter the US between October 2019 and June 2024, contributing to the need for increased detention capacity.
What can the data tell us about unauthorized immigration? — USAFacts
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms DHS has paused purchases of new immigrant‑detention warehouses and is scrutinizing all warehouse contracts signed under former Secretary Kristi Noem.
- Details the inherited $38.3 billion plan to reach 92,000 detention beds through eight mega‑centers (7,000–10,000 beds each) and 16 regional processing hubs.
- Specifies that 11 warehouses have already been purchased in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah at a combined cost of $1.074 billion.
- Reports that lawsuits are pending in three of the warehouse states and that at least one facility, in Surprise, Arizona, has had its planned capacity cut from 1,500 to 542 occupied beds.
- Highlights that many local officials learned of ICE’s plans only after purchases or leases were executed, fueling bipartisan backlash over secrecy and local infrastructure strain.