U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is moving ahead with a nationwide detention expansion designed to increase capacity and streamline immigration enforcement operations.
According to a February 13 ICE document outlining its Detention Reengineering Initiative (DRI), the agency plans to expand detention capacity to 92,600 beds by the end of Fiscal Year 2026.
The initiative includes:
- Eight large-scale detention centers
- Sixteen regional processing sites
- Ten existing facilities where ICE already operates
ICE estimates the total cost of the new detention model at $38.3 billion. The agency said the expansion will be funded through congressional allocations under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Why ICE Is Expanding Capacity
ICE stated that recent enforcement increases and the hiring of 12,000 additional law enforcement officers require expanded detention space to support arrests and removal operations.
The agency described the new model as a long-term detention solution designed to reduce reliance on a larger number of contracted facilities while increasing overall efficiency.
ICE plans to activate all facilities by November 30, 2026.
What The Facilities Will Include
Under the plan:
- Large-scale detention centers will house between 7,000 and 10,000 detainees for average stays of less than 60 days.
- Regional processing centers will hold 1,000 to 1,500 individuals for shorter stays of three to seven days.
ICE said the facilities will provide civil detention services, including medical care, legal access, communication services, food, recreation, and transportation support.
Compliance And Community Review
The document states ICE conducted engineering and infrastructure reviews to evaluate water supply, wastewater systems, electrical capacity, and fire safety.
The agency also said it is complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal regulations to assess potential environmental impacts.
ICE described the expansion as a scalable, long-term solution to support its enforcement mission nationwide.
