Overview
- Documents obtained by the Washington Post show a plan to open or expand roughly 125 detention centers, including military bases, closed prisons and soft-wall structures to reach about 107,000 beds by year-end.
- Congress approved roughly $45 billion to fund the expansion and major contracts with private prison operators such as Geo Group and CoreCivic.
- ICE custody has already topped 60,000 and DHS data report around 150,000 migrant expulsions in the first half of 2025, while some outlets cite unverified daily deportation rates above 1,400.
- Local responses include the Los Angeles Unified School District’s rollout of over 100 school safe zones, Alabama’s SB 53 enforcement measures and Florida’s reactivation of closed prisons for detention.
- Human-rights groups warn that temporary soft-wall facilities may lack running water and climate protection, prompting legal challenges and inspection requests over detainee welfare.