The United States government is actively exploring a controversial plan to purchase and convert large warehouses into massive detention facilities for immigrants awaiting deportation, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the White House.
Massive Expansion of Detention Capacity
Sources reveal that the administration is considering retrofitting warehouses originally built for corporate giants like Amazon to serve as holding facilities for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move represents a significant effort to vastly expand the Trump administration's detention capacity amid ongoing immigration challenges.
When NBC News sought official comments, the White House redirected inquiries to DHS and ICE, neither of which responded to questions about the proposed plan. In a significant clarification, Amazon confirmed they are not involved in any discussions with DHS or ICE regarding their warehouse properties.
Scale and Specifications of Proposed Facilities
The warehouses under consideration are dramatically larger than existing ICE facilities. Current ICE detention centers, like the one in Tacoma, Washington measuring 277,000 square feet with a capacity for 1,500 immigrants, would be dwarfed by the proposed mega centers.
Amazon warehouses typically average around 800,000 square feet, with their largest facility in Wilmington, Delaware spanning an enormous 3.8 million square feet. Officials described these potential facilities as future mega detention centers that would more than double current holding capacities.
Location and Implementation Details
Discussions about the warehouse conversions are still in early stages, with specific locations yet to be finalized. However, ICE is reportedly focusing on properties near airports in southern United States, where the majority of deportations occur.
Both DHS and White House officials confirmed that no private contractors, prison industry representatives, or state governments would own these facilities. Once purchased, the warehouses would be converted into detention centers operated exclusively by ICE officials rather than contractors or military personnel.
Funding and Political Context
While officials couldn't confirm the exact financial scale of these deals, the White House indicated that ICE would fund the warehouse purchases through the budget reconciliation package presented in Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
This initiative represents the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to strengthen its immigration enforcement policies. Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has pursued various approaches to mass deportations with what reports describe as varied success.
The administration has faced challenges, including ICE's failure to meet daily arrest quotas and hire sufficient personnel, leading to replacements among senior leadership. Previous attempts to establish detention facilities, including plans for tent cities at Guantanamo Bay and Fort Bliss, have encountered logistical and implementation hurdles.
Public Opinion and Political Divide
According to recent polling data, American voters remain deeply divided on immigration enforcement. An NBC News poll shows that 50% of registered voters view ICE unfavorably, while 39% support the agency's operations.
The same survey indicates that 51% of respondents believe the Trump administration has met expectations regarding border security and immigration, while 44% feel the administration has fallen short of their expectations.
Officials emphasized that Amazon would not participate in any deals or profit from warehouse purchases, with the government planning to buy properties directly from developers, including some facilities that have never been used.
