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ICE Expands Secret Detention Facilities While Hospital Contract Sparks Community Outcry

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  • ICE is quietly buying warehouses for detention centers and leaving local officials out of the loop
    ICE is quietly buying warehouses for detention centers and leaving local officials out of the loop
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    ICE is quietly buying warehouses for detention centers and leaving local officials out of the loop (Credit: via ap) Source Full size

Stealth Warehouse Acquisitions Across the United States ICE bought three warehouses in Socorro, Texas for $122.8 million, adding 826,000 sq ft without notifying mayor Rudy Cruz Jr. or other local officials, and similar undisclosed deals have been recorded in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and other states, targeting at least 20 communities with seven facilities already secured and eight proposals abandoned[1].

Federal Detention Expansion Funded by Tax‑Cut Bill The Department of Homeland Security plans to create 92,000 new detention beds using $38.3 billion, constructing eight 7,000‑10,000‑bed centers, 16 regional processing sites and acquiring ten “turnkey” facilities, a budget increase made possible by the recent tax‑cut legislation that nearly doubled DHS’s funding[1].

Local Officials Warn of Infrastructure and Revenue Losses County commissioners in Berks County, Pennsylvania estimate an $87.4 million warehouse purchase will deprive the jurisdiction of over $800,000 in property tax revenue, while leaders in Social Circle, Georgia and Surprise, Arizona cite potential strains on water, sewage and other utilities[1].

Community Backlash Intensifies After Recent Deaths Residents at a Socorro city‑council meeting cited three deaths at a nearby ICE detention site and demanded transparency, reflecting a broader decline in public support for ICE’s crackdown as opposition rallies grow[1].

Tacoma Town Hall Confronts Hospital ICE Contract On February 21, 2026, nurses, labor advocates and residents gathered in Tacoma to protest a disclosed October 2025 contract linking St. Joseph Medical Center with ICE and the GEO Group, alleging the agreement permits monitoring of detained migrants receiving care[2].

Safety Incident and Legal Scrutiny Heighten Hospital Concerns An ICE contractor left a loaded firearm in a St. Joseph bathroom, prompting police involvement and criticism from the Washington State Nurses Association, while the hospital maintains it does not participate in immigration enforcement; a recent federal ruling ordered the release of a Filipino detainee due to medical neglect, and DHS’s 2025 rescission of “sensitive locations” guidance now allows broader ICE discretion in hospitals[2].

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Timeline

Jan 2025 – DHS rescinds the “sensitive locations” guidance, removing limits on ICE enforcement at hospitals, schools and churches and allowing officers to act on “common sense” discretion, thereby expanding ICE’s operational reach in community settings. [3]

Oct 2025 – St. Joseph Medical Center signs a contract with ICE and the GEO Group that permits monitoring of detained migrants while they receive medical care, raising concerns about surveillance and treatment standards. [3]

Oct 2025 – An ICE contractor leaves a loaded firearm in a St. Joseph bathroom; the Washington State Nurses Association calls the incident “atrociously unsafe” for patients, staff and visitors. [3]

Nov 2025 – NBC News reports that the Trump administration pushes to expand detention capacity by buying large warehouses and retrofitting them as detention facilities, a strategy discussed in internal briefings. [5]

Dec 4, 2025 – Acuity International posts job listings for warden‑level positions at a proposed ICE detention facility near Portland International Airport (7000 NE Airport Way); Port of Portland officials say they have received no notice from DHS. [5]

Dec 24, 2025 – ICE proposes a nationwide network of warehouses capable of holding more than 80,000 detainees, designating seven large sites (5,000‑10,000 capacity) including one in Stafford, Virginia, and 16 smaller sites up to 1,500; County Supervisor Pamela Yeung warns that local zoning, infrastructure, public‑safety and social‑service impacts will apply. [1]

Jan 6, 2026 – Rep. Emily Randall visits the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, reports detainees cannot meet privately with doctors because ICE or GEO staff attend every appointment, and urges ICE to answer a congressional letter by Jan. 16; GEO Group cites staffing vacancies while the center houses over 1,300 detainees, exceeding pre‑2020 levels. [4]

Jan 16, 2026 – ICE must provide a formal response to the congressional letter outlining medical‑care concerns at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, as mandated by Rep. Randall and other Democratic lawmakers. [4]

Feb 21, 2026 – A Tacoma town hall organized by Tanggol Migrante WA, the Washington State Nurses Association and other groups protests ICE’s presence at St. Joseph Medical Center, citing the Oct 2025 contract and recent safety incident, and demands that ICE be kept out of hospitals. [3]

Feb 21, 2026 – ICE’s secret purchase of three warehouses in Socorro, Texas, for $122.8 million is revealed; Mayor Rudy Cruz Jr. says the city received no federal contact, Commissioner Christian Leinbach warns the $87.4 million acquisition will cost Berks County over $800,000 in lost property taxes, and former DOJ attorney Eduardo Castillo cautions that inaction could lead to “another inhumane detention facility.” [2]

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