Federal Immigration Agency Quietly Buying Warehouses Nationwide for Detention

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is purchasing large warehouses across more than 20 communities as part of a $45 billion detention facility expansion. Many local officials say they're being kept in the dark about the purchases until after deals are completed. Some warehouse owners are now backing out of agreements following community opposition.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has targeted over 20 communities with large warehouse facilities as part of a massive $45 billion detention center expansion program. Many local governments are expressing frustration that federal officials are keeping them uninformed about property acquisitions until transactions are finalized. Several warehouse owners have withdrawn from potential sales agreements.

Here’s what’s happening in various locations across the country:

Arizona state’s chief prosecutor Kris Mayes wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explaining that local authorities received no advance notice before ICE acquired a 418,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Surprise, a Phoenix-area community, for $70 million.

Federal documents later revealed by ICE indicate the Department of Homeland Security projects spending $150 million to transform the building into a processing center with 1,500 beds.

A television journalist in Orlando observed private contractors and federal representatives touring a 439,945-square-foot industrial facility last month. When questioned by a WFTV correspondent, ICE senior adviser David Venturella described the visit as “exploratory.”

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer issued a statement saying the city received no communication from federal authorities and lacks legal authority to prevent a potential ICE operation.

ICE acquired a large warehouse facility in Social Circle for $128.6 million. City documents from DHS reveal plans for two additional buildings as well. The three structures combined would encompass 2.3 million square feet.

Plans are also underway to transform a warehouse in Oakwood into an ICE processing center, according to a statement from Republican U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, though no property deed has been recorded. City Manager B.R. White said his first indication of an impending transaction came when a warehouse supervisor informed a city inspector he’d received orders to evacuate the work site for new owners — the federal government.

Following concerns raised by Merrillville officials about ICE representatives touring a new 275,000-square-foot warehouse, property owner Opus Holding LLC issued a letter stating it is not in negotiations with federal authorities regarding the facility. The correspondence noted Opus was restricted in what information it could disclose due to legal matters.

ICE acquired a warehouse located approximately 60 miles northwest of Baltimore for $102.4 million, according to a deed executed last month. The document was discovered by Project Salt Box, a Maryland ICE monitoring organization.

Washington County officials announced via Facebook that DHS had notified them in advance about considering the warehouse purchase for use as a “new ICE Baltimore Processing Facility.” County commissioners subsequently approved a resolution supporting ICE operations.

ICE revealed its acquisition of a facility in Romulus only after completing the purchase. City officials responded through a Facebook post expressing concern about the “lack of prior notification.”

Warehouse owners in the Minneapolis-area communities of Woodbury and Shakopee withdrew from potential ICE agreements following public opposition, according to local authorities.

Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker announced that Noem agreed to seek alternative locations after local elected officials and zoning authorities opposed a potential detention facility in Byhalia.

Following weeks of community pressure, development company Platform Ventures declared it would not proceed with selling a large warehouse in Kansas City.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte engaged in disputes with federal officials after ICE revealed plans to spend $158 million converting a Merrimack warehouse into a 500-bed processing facility.

The conflict escalated when interim ICE Director Todd Lyons testified that DHS “has worked with Gov. Ayotte” and provided her with an economic impact analysis.

Ayotte responded that the claim was “simply not true.” She stated the analysis arrived hours after Lyons’ testimony. The document incorrectly referenced the “ripple effects to the Oklahoma economy” and revenue from state sales and income taxes, neither of which New Hampshire imposes.

Roxbury announced Friday that ICE had completed the warehouse purchase despite the municipality offering tax incentives to the owner to prevent the sale.

Property transaction documents showing the purchase price were not yet accessible online. The announcement occurred just two days after ICE acknowledged it had made a “mistake” in previously announcing the acquisition.

“Let us be clear: Roxbury Township will not passively accept this outcome,” the mayor and city council stated in a press release.

ICE said Tuesday it erred when it announced acquiring a vacant warehouse in Chester. New York state Assemblyman Brian Maher reported Friday that ICE is no longer evaluating the facility.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt announced last month that property owners had notified him they are no longer in discussions with DHS regarding a potential warehouse acquisition or lease.

DHS bought a warehouse in Tremont Township for $119.5 million and another in Upper Bern Township for $87.4 million. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has stated his administration will oppose DHS plans to convert the warehouses in rural eastern Pennsylvania areas into immigrant detention and processing facilities.

In Socorro, an El Paso-area community, ICE spent $122.8 million for three warehouses totaling 826,780 square feet. ICE also paid $66.1 million for a 639,595-square-foot warehouse in San Antonio. Both cities’ mayors oppose the facilities.

However, another Texas deal was cancelled due to community resistance. In Hutchins, a Dallas suburb, a real estate firm confirmed it was approached about one of its properties but would not sell or lease any buildings to DHS for detention purposes. California-based Majestic Realty Co. offered no explanation in its statement.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed appreciation in her State of the City address that warehouse owners ICE was considering for a detention facility had decided not to sell or lease the property to federal authorities.

Jim Pattison Developments stated last month that it learned of the intended warehouse use in Richmond, Virginia suburbs after agreeing to sell to a U.S. government contractor. Following boycott threats, the Vancouver-based company announced the transaction “will not be proceeding.”