U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced plans to spend $38 billion this year on a new detention center strategy designed to hold nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants. The initiative was revealed on Thursday, February 12, 2026, as part of the administration’s efforts to accelerate deportation operations ahead of the 2026 congressional midterm elections.
A newly released ICE memorandum details the agency’s intention to acquire “non-traditional facilities,” including eight “mega centers,” 16 processing centers, and 10 additional sites already used by ICE enforcement divisions. The funding for this expansion is drawn from ICE appropriations enacted through last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The memo states: “These facilities will ensure the safe and humane civil detention of aliens in ICE custody, while helping ICE effectuate mass deportations.”
Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) raised concerns during a Capitol Hill hearing on Thursday, emphasizing that ICE must engage with local officials to assess community impacts. Meanwhile, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) has already opposed the agency’s proposed purchase of warehouse facilities in his state.
According to the memo, the new centers will accommodate 92,600 illegal immigrants over their operational lifespan. Processing centers will handle 1,000 to 1,500 individuals for three to seven days, while larger facilities will detain 7,000 to 10,000 people for approximately 60 days on average before deportation. In New Hampshire, an economic impact analysis estimates that retrofitting and operating a facility in Merrimack would cost $300 million over three years, supporting 1,252 new jobs.
