The Trump administration is taking new steps to expand detention space for migrants, as the number of people being arrested at the border continues to increase. According to reports, the government has turned to the U.S. Navy to help build new migrant detention centers. The Navy will now secure contracts for these facilities, and the plan is expected to cost around $10 billion. This move gives the military a larger role in the country’s immigration enforcement system.
Recent data shows that nearly 60,000 migrants are currently being held in U.S. detention centers, compared to about 38,000 a year earlier. Many of these centers are overcrowded, and reports from detainees highlight problems such as poor sanitation, lack of medical care, and mistreatment. Because of this overcrowding, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wants to increase capacity to over 100,000 beds by January 2026.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has had difficulty securing contracts to build new facilities. Because of delays, it has turned to the Navy’s Supply Systems Command to speed up the process. The involvement of the military is expected to help bypass some of the contracting challenges that have slowed down previous construction plans.
Most of the planned detention centers will be large tent-style compounds, similar to the one already operating at Fort Bliss in Texas. Detainees there have reported serious issues, including poor access to legal support and medical care. Each new facility could hold up to 10,000 people, and they are expected to be built in Louisiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Utah, and Kansas. Some construction is expected to begin as soon as next month.
The Navy has already expanded an existing contracting rule to allow private companies to build and operate facilities that house migrants. This expansion was done quietly in July, allowing contractors to provide staff, services, and infrastructure for the centers on behalf of ICE and DHS.
Private prison companies are also benefiting from the expansion plans. Companies such as CoreCivic and GEO Group, which manage many of the largest detention centers, have reported rising profits since the start of the new enforcement policies. Some closed prisons have even been reopened to hold migrants who have no criminal record.
The growing number of people held in these facilities has raised human rights concerns. Over 20 migrants have died in ICE custody so far this year. Advocacy groups and detainees continue to report issues such as lack of medical treatment, poor food, unsafe conditions, and limited access to legal assistance. Critics say expanding detention will only make these conditions worse.
The plan to build the new centers continues to be debated across the country, with supporters arguing it is necessary to enforce immigration laws and critics saying it will lead to further human suffering. The situation remains tense as the government pushes forward with what it calls the largest immigration crackdown in U.S. history.