Overview
- A memo shared with New Hampshire officials outlines eight large “mega-centers” holding 7,000–10,000 people for about 60 days and 16 processing sites holding 1,000–1,500 people for 3–7 days, plus 10 existing turnkey facilities.
- The $38.3 billion push, financed through last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill, aims to own facilities and contract operations, with records indicating a target to have all sites online by Nov. 30, 2026.
- In Merrimack, N.H., DHS projects 400–600 beds and hundreds of jobs; Gov. Kelly Ayotte released economic documents received after a Senate hearing and disputed ICE testimony that she had them earlier, as local leaders flagged errors in the analysis.
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro warned DHS he will “aggressively” pursue options to stop conversions in Berks and Schuylkill counties; DHS confirmed both warehouse purchases and said due diligence and community impact studies will precede operations, citing more than 11,000 jobs.
- Local pushback is reshaping deals: San Antonio officials are exploring ways to resist after DHS bought a $66 million warehouse; owners in Missouri and Virginia have walked away from prospective sales; and Kansas City police opened an arson investigation after a small fire at a site whose owner withdrew.