The federal government’s plan to dramatically expand immigration detention capacity is running into an unexpected obstacle: the very communities where new facilities are being proposed. From deep-red rural towns to blue-state suburbs, resistance to ICE’s detention buildout is emerging as one of the more unusual bipartisan flashpoints of 2026.
The expansion push comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement works to spend down the historic $45 billion allocation Congress approved, with plans to convert warehouses, empty big-box stores, and other commercial properties into detention centers capable of holding thousands of immigrants at a time.
Warehouse Conversions Draw Pushback
In Williamsport, Maryland, a warehouse is being converted into what would become one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country, with plans to hold up to 1,500 detainees. The facility has drawn sharp opposition from local residents and officials who say they were blindsided by the announcement.
Similar resistance has surfaced in Georgia, where a proposed detention warehouse in a small town prompted community members — including self-described conservatives — to organize against the project. Local officials have raised concerns about the strain on infrastructure, emergency services, and the character of their communities.
“This isn’t a left-right issue for us,” one Georgia county commissioner said at a recent public meeting. “This is about what kind of community we want to be and whether our roads, our hospitals, and our water system can handle a facility like this.”
A Deadly Year in Detention
The expansion is unfolding against a grim backdrop. Twenty-three people have died in ICE custody since the start of the current fiscal year in October — already surpassing the total for the entire previous fiscal year and putting 2026 on track to be the deadliest year for immigration detainees in more than two decades.
Advocacy groups and oversight bodies have linked the rising death toll to the rapid scaling of detention operations. As ICE has ramped up arrests — including a fivefold increase in arrests of immigrants without criminal records in some regions — existing facilities have struggled to keep pace with the influx.
Reports from California and Texas detention centers describe overcrowded housing units, long waits for medical care, and deteriorating sanitary conditions. A recent oversight report documented extensive violations of the agency’s own detention standards across multiple facilities.
Pregnant Detainees Caught in the System
New data released this month revealed that between January 2025 and February 2026, 363 pregnant, postpartum, and nursing immigrants were deported from ICE custody. Sixteen miscarriages were recorded during that period — a figure that has drawn sharp criticism from medical professionals and immigrant rights organizations.
The data adds to growing concerns about the adequacy of medical care in detention facilities, particularly as the system expands rapidly. Health care staffing has not kept pace with the surge in detainees, and several of the year’s 23 deaths have been attributed to delayed or inadequate medical treatment.
For families trying to locate a detained loved one, the expansion has created additional confusion. Detainees are frequently transferred between facilities — sometimes across state lines — with limited notice to family members or attorneys.
The Scale of the Buildout
ICE currently operates or contracts with more than 200 detention facilities nationwide. The agency’s expansion plans would add dozens more, with a particular focus on states along the southern border and in the interior of the country where immigration enforcement operations have intensified.
The warehouse conversion model is central to the strategy. By repurposing existing commercial properties, ICE can bring new facilities online faster and at lower cost than traditional ground-up construction. But the approach has raised questions about whether converted warehouses can meet adequate standards for housing people who may be detained for weeks or months.
Understanding the bail and bond process is critical for detained immigrants and their families, as immigration bond can be the fastest path to release while a case is pending.
Communities Weigh In
What makes the current resistance notable is its breadth. In previous rounds of detention expansion, opposition was concentrated in progressive-leaning areas. This time, some of the most vocal pushback is coming from conservative communities that broadly support immigration enforcement but object to having a large detention facility in their backyard.
Local officials in several states have introduced ordinances or resolutions aimed at blocking or delaying facility construction, though the legal authority to override federal siting decisions remains contested.
The debate is likely to intensify in the coming months as ICE moves forward with additional site acquisitions and communities across the country grapple with what a vastly expanded detention system means for their towns.
