WASHINGTON — Federal immigration officials plan to sell or transfer several warehouses that were purchased earlier this year for use as immigrant detention facilities, marking a significant retreat from a controversial expansion strategy pursued by the Department of Homeland Security under former Secretary Kristi Noem, according to government officials and court filings.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is backing away from plans to convert at least seven of 11 warehouses acquired across the country into large-scale detention centers, according to internal documents reported by multiple news organizations and statements from federal officials. The facilities were part of a broader effort to rapidly increase detention capacity as the Trump administration expanded immigration enforcement operations.
The shift became public this week after federal attorneys informed a judge that a warehouse in Romulus, Michigan, would be sold. Local officials in Georgia and Texas also said they had been told that detention plans for warehouses in their communities had been canceled or substantially revised.
According to Associated Press reporting, the federal government spent about $1 billion acquiring or leasing the 11 warehouse sites. The facilities were intended to house thousands of immigration detainees, but the plan encountered legal challenges, regulatory hurdles and opposition from local governments in several states.
The Department of Homeland Security did not directly confirm which properties would be sold. In a statement cited by the Associated Press, the department said it is “moving swiftly to utilize EXISTING detention space with our state and county partners.”
Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who succeeded Noem earlier this year, paused new warehouse acquisitions while reviewing contracts and detention policies. During his confirmation process, Mullin acknowledged concerns about whether local infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems, could support large detention facilities.
Opposition to the warehouse initiative came from both Republican and Democratic officials, as well as community groups and former immigration officials. Critics questioned the suitability of warehouse buildings for detention operations and raised concerns about transparency, environmental compliance and costs. Several lawsuits were filed challenging the projects.
Some warehouse projects remain under review. In Maryland and Pennsylvania, officials said this week that plans for certain facilities have not been finalized, while legal and permitting disputes continue. Federal authorities have also indicated that some sites may be repurposed for administrative or training functions rather than large-scale detention operations.
As of Thursday, DHS had not released a complete list of properties slated for sale or transfer, and details regarding the timing and terms of any transactions remained unclear.
