News On ICE Warehouses and Related Topics:
Jun 8: Colorado recently passed a law requiring health and safety inspections in immigrant detention facilities (House bill 1276). The GEO Group immediately filed a lawsuit alleging the law exceeds state authority.
Jun 8: Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County sued the federal government to stop the ICE warehouse. The suit argues the facility would strain limited resources during a drought and stress the sewer system. It also claims that the government failed to conduct the necessary environmental reviews prior to purchasing the site.
Jun 11: Final Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain- Detention Facility Enhancements (Marana, AZ) on DHS.gov. ICE seeks a contract to operate, renovate, and enhance the existing facility at Marana under a contractor arrangement. Detainee numbers to increase from 506 to 775 with a potential for 600 additional temporary beds, bringing the total to 1300.
Jun 11: Bloomberg released an in-depth background story on the ICE warehouse in Tremont, PA entitled, “Can Anyone Say No to ICE?”
Jun 14: In a major immigration ruling, a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to restart the processing of asylum and immigration applications. In a 135-page opinion, the judge argued that the halt on work permits and banning asylum seekers placed the lives of countless on hold solely by virtue of their country of birth.
Jun 14: Articles were released revealing how the $70B in DHS funding will be allocated through 2029. ICE will receive $38B, CBP $26B, and approximately $5B will go to DHS. This ICE budget will expand arrests, detention, deportation operations, and partnerships with state and local police. Of additional concern is the provision for $350M related to enforcement in cities and states that do not comply with the administration’s mass deportation agenda (likely targeting sanctuary cities/communities). The law also omits any guardrails such as reporting requirements or congressional oversight of detention facilities.
Jun 15: Five Democratic US Representatives from Michigan sent a letter to DHS Secretary Mullin opposing the ICE warehouse facility in Romulus. The representatives included Rep Stevens, Rep Dingell, Rep Scholten, Rep McDonald Rivet, and Rep Thanedar.
Jun 16: In Minneapolis, fifteen defendants were charged with conspiracy to impede federal agents. Joint Task Force Vanguard brought a federal indictment against the defendants charging stalking, assault, and threatening officers in a case outlined from Jan 11 to May 4, 2026, by DOJ. The government alleges the individuals are part of two “antifa” groups. There were protests across the city against the arrests and activists are closely watching the case.
Jun 17: US Representative Veronica Escobar was quoted in the El Paso Times as saying that ICE is no longer considering the warehouses in Socorro for detention purposes. More specifically, ICE may use the facilities for offices, conferences, training, and limited detention.
Jun 17: The Supreme Court is being asked to weigh in on an important immigration detention case regarding attorney fees. Montoya v. Liggins could change the attorneys’ willingness to pursue habeus cases. Over 52,000 petitions for writs of habeus corpus have been filed for detained migrants. The issue involved concerns whether detention can be regarded as a civil action and therefore allow attorney fee coverage under the Equal Access to Justice Act or not. If the Supreme Court grants the request to hear the case, arguments would likely begin in October.
Jun 18: MAJOR NEWS FOR SOME ICE WAREHOUSES The NY Times broke the story about the administration deciding not to use 7 of the 11 purchased ICE warehouses for detention. Warehouses in Romulus, MI.; Social Circle and Flowery Branch, GA.; Hamburg and Tremont, PA.; Salt Lake City; and Roxbury, N.J. will be sold off or given to other branches of the government. The remaining sites where DHS continues to focus their efforts are San Antonio and Socorro, TX; Surprise, AZ.; and Hagerstown, MD. On June 17th, the El Paso Times reported that the three ICE warehouses there were no longer going to be used for mass detention according to US Rep. Veronica Escobar. It is important for everyone to remain vigilant during this time of transition.
Links:
ICE Spent $700 Million on 7 Warehouses. Now It Wants to Get Rid of Them. – The New York Times
ICE changing plans for Socorro warehouses, US Rep. Veronica Escobar says
ICE Wants to Reopen a Prison in Your Town? The Economic Impact of Prisons on Communities – YouTube
If I Could Stay / Si Pudiera Quedarme | PBS:
Undocumented mothers in Denver seek sanctuary in churches to keep their families together. (Rocky Mountain PBS) 1 hour, documentary
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