ICE looking into expanding migrant detention facilities, ACLU says
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has raised concerns over the expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) migrant detention facilities under the new Trump administration, which is set to begin in just a few days. President Trump has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, and part of this plan involves the use of ICE detention facilities, some of which have been criticized for their treatment of migrants.
According to a report from the ACLU, ICE currently detains approximately 37,000 people each day in over 120 immigration detention facilities across the country. The ACLU has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit to obtain more information about ICE’s plans to increase this number to 100,000 per day under the Trump administration.
Incoming Trump “border czar” Tom Homan has stated that the administration will prioritize deporting illegal migrants. While ICE owns five detention facilities, the agency also relies on partnerships with non-profits and private prison companies to detain the majority of individuals in its custody.
In the ACLU’s FOIA lawsuit, documents revealed that ICE is considering expanding migrant detention facilities in six states, including Texas, California, Illinois, Nevada, and Utah. Facilities in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, such as the Willacy County Jail and the Brooks County Detention Facility, are among those being considered for expansion.
ACLU senior attorney Eunice Cho emphasized the importance of transparency in ICE’s plans for enforcement and detention of immigrants. Cho expressed concerns about the potential growth of the immigration detention system, particularly in facilities with a history of conditions violations and mistreatment of detainees.
The ACLU is seeking more information on ICE’s plans to expand detention facilities and has called for greater oversight to ensure the safety and rights of migrants in custody. The organization is particularly worried about the potential reopening of the South Texas Family Residential Center, operated by CoreCivic, which has faced allegations of mistreatment in the past.
As President-elect Trump’s deportation plan unfolds, details remain unclear, but it is expected that criminal migrants will be targeted first. The appointment of hardliner Kristi Noem as the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security suggests a tough stance on immigration enforcement.
With the future of family detention centers also uncertain, the ACLU and other advocacy groups are closely monitoring ICE’s actions to ensure that migrants are treated with dignity and respect. The expansion of migrant detention facilities raises serious concerns about the treatment of individuals in custody, and the ACLU is committed to holding ICE accountable for its actions.
