The Trump administration is taking decisive action to fix a broken immigration system by planning large-scale “emergency” processing centers designed to dramatically speed up deportations and restore order at the border.
According to a report from The Washington Post, federal officials are seeking contractors to convert massive industrial warehouses into centralized staging facilities for illegal immigrants awaiting removal from the United States.
The goal is simple: end the chaos created by years of overcrowding, delays, and catch-and-release policies.
A New System to Replace the Old Chaos
Under the proposal, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would move away from its current practice of shuffling detainees around the country wherever space happens to be available.
Instead, newly arrested illegal immigrants would first be processed at short-term intake centers for several weeks. From there, they would be transferred to one of seven large warehouse facilities, each capable of holding between 5,000 and 10,000 people while they await deportation.
An additional 16 smaller facilities could each house up to 1,500 detainees, allowing ICE to better manage capacity and logistics nationwide.
Strategic Locations for Faster Deportations
The proposed warehouses would be located near major transportation hubs in states such as Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia, Missouri, and Virginia.
These locations were chosen for one reason: efficiency.
By placing facilities near major airports and logistics corridors, the administration aims to reduce transportation costs, eliminate delays, and move deportation flights more quickly and consistently.
Part of Trump’s Larger Border Enforcement Push
Although the plan is still in draft form, ICE is expected to share the proposal with private detention companies soon, with formal bidding potentially coming next.
The move represents the next phase of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to enforce immigration law at scale after years of lax enforcement.
Congress has already set aside approximately $45 billion for detention expansion. The administration has also reopened dormant prisons, repurposed parts of military bases, and partnered with Republican-led states to establish temporary facilities in remote areas.
Deportations Already Surging
Border enforcement officials say the strategy is already producing results.
Former ICE director and current border czar Tom Homan recently stated on X that more than 579,000 people have been deported so far this year.
Supporters argue the warehouse approach is not about punishment, but about fixing a system that no longer worked.
Supporters vs. Critics
According to the draft solicitation, the facilities are designed to:
- Reduce processing times
- Cut taxpayer costs
- Improve coordination
- Accelerate removals
- Maintain safety and humane standards
Critics, however, claim large warehouse facilities could be impersonal and raise concerns about ventilation, sanitation, and staffing. Commercial real estate experts cited by The Washington Post questioned whether buildings designed for shipping goods can be easily adapted for housing large populations.
ICE Detention Numbers Hit Record Highs
The debate comes as detention numbers continue to climb.
ICE reportedly held more than 68,000 individuals earlier this month—the highest number ever recorded. Nearly half reportedly had no criminal conviction or pending charges, highlighting the scale of the enforcement challenge.
The Bottom Line
For the Trump administration, the objective is clear: build a system that enforces immigration law quickly, consistently, and fairly, while ending years of bureaucratic paralysis and incentives that encouraged illegal entry.
Whether critics approve or not, the message from the administration is unmistakable—border enforcement is no longer optional.