Trending Now - Georgia Town Resists Ice's Plans for Detention Center Expansion
WHO:
Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is set to leave her position on March 31, 2026.
Corey Lewandowski, chief adviser to Noem, is expected to leave with her.
President Trump
Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Corey Lewandowski, chief adviser to Noem
Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican from Oklahoma
Senator John Fetterman, Democrat from Pennsylvania
Alison Woodbury, owner of ALICATS dance studio
Roger Wicker, Republican Senator from Mississippi
B.R. White, City Manager of Oakwood
Andrew Clyde, Republican US Representative
Matéo Penado, founder of the Rainbow Collective
Ari Mathé, local child welfare attorney
George Zoley, Executive Chairman of GEO Group
WHAT:
The DHS has purchased a warehouse in Salt Lake City for more than $145 million.
The government paid an average of 11 to 13 percent above market rates for 10 of the properties acquired for the detention facilities.
At least a dozen more detainees have died in ICE custody since the beginning of 2026.
DHS plans to convert 11 large warehouses into detention facilities for up to 10,000 detainees.
The acquisition of warehouses is part of a $38 billion initiative to revamp the detention system.
The Oakwood facility was purchased for $68 million on February 18, 2026.
The Social Circle facility is expected to house between 7,500 to 10,000 detainees.
At least 31 detainees died in ICE custody in 2025, the highest total in two decades.
The average length of stay for detainees ranges from three to 60 days.
The Oakwood facility is designed to include immigration hearing rooms, medical services, and recreational areas.
WHERE:
A federal court in Maryland issued a temporary restraining order blocking construction work at the newly acquired ICE warehouse near Hagerstown, Maryland.
Oakwood, Georgia, approximately 50 miles northeast of Atlanta
Social Circle, Georgia
Hagerstown, Maryland
Surprise, Arizona
Hamburg, Pennsylvania
Tremont, Pennsylvania
Williamsport, Maryland
WHEN:
The Oakwood facility was purchased on February 18, 2026, just two weeks before the city was informed of the agency’s intentions.
March 31, 2026, is set as Kristi Noem’s last day in office.
The DHS warehouse plan was first pitched in spring 2025.
The Oakwood facility was purchased on February 18, 2026.
The Social Circle facility is expected to go online by October 2026.
The confirmation hearing for Markwayne Mullin is scheduled for March 2026.
WHY:
Local officials and community members are opposing the facility due to concerns about safety and community impact, with some expressing that the facility could strain local infrastructure and economic opportunities.
The DHS aims to expand detention space to support the largest deportation effort in American history.
Local officials and community members oppose the facility due to concerns about safety and community impact.
HOW:
DHS is facing backlash from local governments and activists, leading to a slowdown in the warehouse conversion plans.
DHS is purchasing properties and retrofitting existing warehouses into detention centers.
The plan includes acquiring and renovating eight large-scale detention centers and 16 processing sites.
Local governments and activists are organizing to oppose the construction and seek legal avenues to halt it.
(UPDATED March 16, 2026 21:09 UTC)
In a significant development, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is set to leave her position on March 31, with chief adviser Corey Lewandowski expected to depart alongside her. Recently, the DHS purchased a warehouse in Salt Lake City for over $145 million, but a federal court in Maryland has issued a temporary restraining order blocking construction at a newly acquired ICE facility near Hagerstown, amid local opposition due to safety concerns and potential impacts on infrastructure. This backlash has led to a slowdown in the conversion plans for the warehouse, as at least a dozen detainees have died in ICE custody since the start of 2026, raising further scrutiny on the agency's actions.
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(UPDATED March 16, 2026 19:22 UTC)
In a significant move, the Department of Homeland Security plans to convert 11 large warehouses into detention facilities capable of housing up to 10,000 detainees as part of a $38 billion initiative to revamp the detention system. The Oakwood facility, purchased for $68 million on February 18, 2026, is designed to include immigration hearing rooms, medical services, and recreational areas, while local officials and community members express concerns about safety and the impact on their communities. The Social Circle facility is expected to go online by October 2026, amid ongoing opposition from local governments and activists who are seeking legal avenues to halt the construction.