ICE's purchases for big detention centers are marked by secrecy, frustrating towns

[dalton99a]

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detention-centers-pushback-24e702da67281a672b0f77287aaa87ba

ICE’s purchases for big detention centers are marked by secrecy, frustrating towns
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and MORGAN LEE
Updated 10:54 AM CST, February 21, 2026

SOCORRO, Texas (AP) — In a Texas town at the edge of the Rio Grande and a tall metal border wall, rumors swirled that federal immigration officials wanted to purchase three hulking warehouses to transform into a detention center.

As local officials scrambled to find out what was happening, a deed was filed showing the Department of Homeland Security had already inked a $122.8 million deal for the 826,000-square-foot (76,738-square-meter) warehouses in Socorro, a bedroom community of 40,000 people outside El Paso.

“Nobody from the federal government bothered to pick up the phone or even send us any type of correspondence letting us know what’s about to take place,” said Rudy Cruz Jr., the mayor of the predominantly Hispanic town of low-slung ranch homes and trailer parks, where orchards and irrigation ditches share the landscape with strip malls, truck stops, recycling plants and distribution warehouses.

Socorro is among at least 20 communities with large warehouses across the U.S. that have become stealth targets for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s $45-billion expansion of detention centers.




Socorro, Texas


Social Circle, Georgia


Surprise, Arizona




...

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Masks, secrecy ... it's like an invasion by a foreign power. /nt

[ret5hd]

2. They Live

[cbabe]

3. Land use violations? Not zoned for prison or residential use?

[dalton99a]

4. Federally funded projects are not subject to local zoning laws.

[cbabe]

6. Maybe some loopholes? My town is trying it.

One example:

(Some of these locations and activities probably receive some federal funds.)

https://mynorthwest.com/mynorthwest-politics/king-county-ice/4202379

New King County executive order restricts ICE enforcement, adds $2M for immigrant services
Feb 12, 2026, 1:54 PM | Updated: 3:13 pm

BY JULIA DALLAS
MyNorthwest Content Editor

King County is tightening regulations around U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.

Executive Girmay Zahilay signed a new executive order Thursday that aims to protect immigrant and refugee communities amid increased federal enforcement.

The order allocates $2 million in emergency funding for immigrant and refugee communities to support rent, food, and legal fees. It directs the King County Sheriff’s Office to publish protocols for responding to 911 calls reporting ICE activity. It also prohibits immigration authorities from staging or conducting civil enforcement in non-public areas of county property, including parking lots, garages, and vacant lots.

… more …

[carpetbagger]

5. The other Texas blue dot is a mile from my house.

The two good things are that first, I'm headed to Canada in three months and second, I now have an undisclosed number of new neighbors who work hard trying to make a good life for themselves and their children.

[bluestarone]

7. This is getting way out of hand folks.

The more shit these assholes getting away with, is allowing them to get away with more shit. That's how i feel. This shit has to be stopped.

[kimbutgar]

8. I was recently driving though Surprise Az and saw that warehouse while visiting my mother on law who lives near there

And had read about them building these concentration camp facilities and knew immediately what it was.

This makes me so angry!

[Nictuku]

9. I can't help but wonder if they have incinerators onsite

[themaguffin]

10. There's also grifting happening with this too.

[dalton99a]

11. Yep. Corruption and bribes and kickbacks

Billions of dollars of tax money. Zero transparency. Zero accountability.

And Noem is in charge