The Trump administration is planning to hold thousands of immigrants in warehouses, including a site in Upstate New York, according to a new report.
A draft solicitation obtained by The Washington Post shows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aims to speed up deportations by “establishing a deliberate feeder system.” Instead of moving detainees around the country to currently available detention spaces, they would be housed in one of 23 industrial warehouses renovated to hold up to 80,000 total immigrants at a time.
Larger deportation centers could have up to 10,000 beds, according to the Post. One of the smaller processing sites would be at a warehouse in the Hudson Valley town of Chester that fits between 500 and 1,500 beds.
The plans are not final and subject to change, according to the Post. ICE reportedly plans to share its draft solicitation with private detention companies and then potentially make adjustments or open up formal requests for bids.
NBC reported last month that ICE was looking into buying warehouses to convert them into “mega detention centers” for immigrants. The Post report newly identified potential locations to “accelerate the removal process and promote the safety, dignity and respect for all in ICE custody,” according to the solicitation draft.
The moves are part of President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to deport millions of immigrants. More than 579,000 people were evicted from the U.S. this year, according to Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.
Additional details about the Chester location were not disclosed. It’s unclear what modifications would be needed; ICE said it would potentially create intake areas, housing units with showers and restrooms, a kitchen, dining areas, a medical unit, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, a law library, and administrative offices.