ICE’s Secret Warehouse Purchases Expose Undemocratic Expansion of Detention Centers

In towns across America, from Socorro, Texas to Berks County, Pennsylvania, hardworking local leaders are blindsided by sudden announcements that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has purchased massive warehouses to convert into detention centers. These stealth acquisitions—totaling hundreds of millions of dollars—are part of a $45 billion expansion plan to more than double the number of beds nationwide. Yet the affected communities often hear about these seismic changes through deeds filed or news reports—not from their own government. Why Is ICE Sidestepping Local Authorities? The people living in these towns have every right to demand transparency and inclusion when their...