The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is facing significant resistance as it embarks on an ambitious $45 billion expansion plan to increase its network of detention centers across the country. This expansion involves converting large industrial warehouses into processing and detention facilities for thousands of detainees, a move that has sparked concerns and backlash from local communities, officials, and property owners nationwide.
ICE’s strategy has often involved quietly purchasing or attempting to purchase massive warehouses in suburban and rural areas without prior notification or consultation with local governments. This stealth approach has led to frustration and opposition, as many towns only learn of the federal government’s plans after deals have been finalized or are close to completion. In some cases, warehouse owners have outright refused to sell or lease their properties to the agency, responding to community pressure or legal concerns.
### The Expansion Effort and Local Pushback
One prominent example occurred in Surprise, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, where ICE purchased a 418,000-square-foot warehouse for $70 million. Arizona’s top prosecutor, Kris Mayes, expressed outrage that local officials were not informed before the purchase. According to documents ICE later provided, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) planned to spend an additional $150 million retrofitting the facility into a 1,500-bed processing center. This surprise purchase has raised alarms about transparency and the impact on local communities.
Similarly, in Orlando, Florida, a 440,000-square-foot warehouse was spotted being toured by federal officials and private contractors, though ICE described the visit as “exploratory.” Orlando’s mayor, Buddy Dyer, confirmed that the city had not been contacted about any plans and acknowledged that legally, the city has limited ability to prevent the federal government from establishing a facility there.
In Social Circle, Georgia, ICE spent $128.6 million on one warehouse and has plans for two additional buildings, potentially totaling 2.3 million square feet. Local officials only learned about the acquisitions through documents provided after the fact, fueling concerns about a lack of transparency and community input.
In Oakwood, Georgia, local authorities were caught off guard when a warehouse supervisor informed a city inspector that the site was being cleared for new federal ownership. No official deed had been filed at the time, highlighting the secretive nature of the federal government’s acquisitions.
### Resistance from Property Owners and Local Governments
Not all warehouse owners have acquiesced to ICE’s plans. In Merrillville, Indiana, after concerns arose about ICE touring a 275,000-square-foot warehouse, its owner, Opus Holding LLC, publicly stated that it was not negotiating with federal officials and cited legal constraints limiting what information it could share. This refusal exemplifies how property owners are increasingly wary of becoming part of ICE’s detention network.
In Maryland, ICE purchased a warehouse northwest of Baltimore for $102.4 million, with prior notification to Washington County officials. While the county commissioners expressed support for ICE’s activities, this acceptance is not universal. In contrast, in the Minneapolis suburbs of Woodbury and Shakopee, local opposition led warehouse owners to withdraw from potential sales to ICE.
Tensions also flared in Byhalia, Mississippi, where Republican Senator Roger Wicker disclosed that after local elected and zoning officials opposed the proposed detention center, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem agreed to explore alternative sites. Similarly, development company Platform Ventures canceled the sale of a large warehouse in Kansas City following weeks of public pressure.
### Political and Community Backlash
The expansion has caused friction not only at the local level but also with state officials. In New Hampshire, Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte publicly clashed with federal officials over ICE’s $158 million plan to convert a warehouse in Merrimack into a 500-bed processing center. Interim ICE Director Todd Lyons testified that the DHS had cooperated with Ayotte’s administration by providing an economic impact summary, but Ayotte refuted this claim, noting the document was sent only hours after his testimony and contained glaring errors, such as references to Oklahoma’s economy instead of New Hampshire’s.
In Roxbury Township, New Jersey, ICE proceeded with the purchase of a warehouse despite the township offering tax incentives to discourage the sale. The local government vowed not to accept the outcome passively, underscoring the growing resolve among communities to resist ICE’s expansion. Meanwhile, in Chester, New York, ICE announced a warehouse purchase only to retract it days later, and state Assemblyman Brian Maher confirmed that the