ICE Plans $38.3 Billion Expansion to Convert Warehouses Into Massive Immigrant Detention Centers as DHS Releases New Documents

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to spend an estimated $38.3 billion to acquire warehouses nationwide and convert them into large-scale immigrant detention centers, according to newly released federal documents.

The records, provided by the Department of Homeland Security to New Hampshire officials and published Thursday, lay out the most detailed blueprint yet of the administration’s plan to dramatically expand detention capacity using industrial buildings.

Under the proposal, ICE would retrofit existing warehouses into secure detention facilities capable of holding tens of thousands of immigrants, significantly increasing bed space as enforcement operations ramp up across the country.

The documents surfaced after New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte requested additional information following a U.S. Senate hearing that raised concerns about a potential detention facility in Merrimack and its economic impact on the surrounding community.

In a statement, Ayotte said DHS distributed the economic impact study for the first time after her office inquired about it. She added that the documents were immediately shared with local officials and made publicly available on the governor’s website.

While ICE has not disclosed how many specific warehouses it plans to convert or a firm timeline for implementation, the projected $38.3 billion cost underscores the scale of what would be one of the largest detention expansions in U.S. history.

Supporters of the plan argue the additional facilities are necessary to manage increasing numbers of immigration arrests and removals, particularly as federal authorities intensify enforcement operations nationwide.

Critics, however, warn that transforming industrial buildings into detention centers raises serious humanitarian concerns, including overcrowding, access to legal counsel, and medical care – issues that have already drawn scrutiny in other states.

The release of the documents is expected to fuel further debate in Congress and among state and local leaders over both the financial burden and the human consequences of expanding immigrant detention on such an unprecedented scale.

Release Date: February 12, 2026

•    DHS: Merrimack, NH Processing Site —Economic Impact Analysis 
•    DHS: ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative 

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