The Trump administration plans to hold thousands of immigrants in warehouses, including a location in Upstate New York, according to a new report.
The draft call he received The Washington Post shows that the goal of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is to expedite deportations by “implementing a system of deliberate introduction.” Instead of moving detainees overland to currently available detention facilities, they would be housed in one of 23 industrial warehouses renovated to hold up to 80,000 total immigrants at once.
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 city of Chester that would hold between 500 and 1,500 beds.
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 possibly make adjustments or open formal requests for proposals.
NBC announced last month that ICE was considering buying the warehouses to turn them into “mega detention centers” for immigrants. The Post report newly identified potential sites to “expedite the removal process and promote the safety, dignity and respect of all in ICE custody,” according to the draft proposal.
The moves are part of President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to deport millions of immigrants. More than 579,000 people were deported from the US this year, according to Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.
Further details about Chester’s location have not been released. It is not clear what modifications would be needed; ICE said it will potentially create entrance areas, housing units with showers and toilets, a kitchen, dining areas, a medical unit, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, a law library and administrative offices.
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