Trump Administration Sets Ambitious Goal to Double Immigrant Detention Capacity

The US has the largest immigrant detention system in the world, with a capacity of nearly 50,000 migrants. The Trump administration aims to double this capacity, despite the existing system already being the largest in the world. The plan is revealed in ICE documents, which detail the expansion efforts.

The United States currently maintains the world's largest immigrant detention system, with a capacity of nearly 50,000 migrants. Despite this, the Trump administration has announced plans to double this capacity, as revealed in ICE documents detailing the expansion efforts [2]. This significant increase in detention space comes amidst ongoing debates about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the current system.

The administration's goal to expand the detention system was confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who stated that the new facilities will be modeled after the controversial Alligator Alcatraz in Florida’s Everglades [3]. Noem emphasized that the new centers will be located near airports to facilitate rapid deportation of detainees. She also mentioned that several states, including Indiana, Arizona, Nebraska, and Louisiana, are being considered for these facilities [3].

The expansion plans have sparked legal challenges and environmental concerns. In Florida, environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians have sued the state, alleging that the South Florida Detention Facility poses threats to the sensitive Everglades ecosystem [1]. A federal judge in Florida temporarily halted the facility's expansion, but operations can continue and detainees can remain at the site [1].

The cost implications of these expansion plans are substantial. The South Florida Detention Facility, which opened in July, cost more than $250 million to set up and is expected to cost $450 million per year [1]. The federal government has pledged to reimburse the state for its immigration enforcement costs, with the Florida Division of Emergency Management working with the feds to secure a $605 million grant [1].

The Trump administration has also secured funding for these expansion efforts. GardaWorld Federal Services, a U.S. subsidiary of Montreal-based security company GardaWorld, has been authorized to bid on ICE contracts worth up to $138 million [3]. The company is involved in staffing Alligator Alcatraz and has been awarded an $8 million contract to hire staff for the facility [3].

While the administration aims to double the detention capacity, critics argue that the current system is already overburdened and that the expansion may not address the underlying issues effectively. The increased capacity may also lead to further strain on the system and potential human rights concerns.

References:
[1] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/florida-open-second-immigration-detention-194006890.html
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/08/15/ice-documents-reveal-plan-double-immigrant-detention-space-this-year/
[3] https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-08-08/the-trump-administration-is-preparing-new-detention-centers-inspired-by-alligator-alcatraz.html