ICE Documents Suggest Biden Policies Could Bolster Trump Deportation Agenda
Newly obtained documents from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reveal that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been exploring plans to expand immigration detention facilities in at least eight states.
Why It Matters
The proposals, dating back to September, suggest the Biden administration was laying the groundwork for expanded immigrant detention. This comes as Democrats criticized former President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations.
The Big Picture
These plans could provide Trump with an opportunity to quickly implement what could become the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history. Detention is a critical, costly, and resource-intensive element of deportation operations.
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Key Details
The documents, obtained through an open records request, reveal the following:
- ICE sought to expand detention capacity in Michigan, California, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington.
- Proposals were submitted by private prison companies and service providers, including GEO Group, Inc., CoreCivic, Management and Training Corporation (MTC), and Target Hospitality, which specializes in temporary tent facilities.
Specific Facilities Mentioned
- North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, owned by GEO Group, Inc.
- Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo, Texas, also owned by GEO Group, Inc.
- Carrizo Springs Facility in Texas, a tent-based center previously used to detain immigrant minors, operated by Target Hospitality.
ICE has not responded to media inquiries regarding these plans.
What They’re Saying
“These records confirm ICE’s ongoing efforts to expand immigration detention across the U.S.,” said Eunice Cho, senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s National Prison Project.
- Cho noted that expansion is planned in areas with no previous detention facilities, often involving locations with documented histories of abuse.
- She criticized the move, stating it would enable Trump’s proposed mass deportations.
Between the Lines
The documents indicate that, like the Obama administration, the Biden administration has been developing its own plans to accelerate deportations while publicly opposing similar Republican proposals.
- Immigrant rights groups have condemned Trump’s mass deportation plans for creating fear in immigrant communities. However, many of these groups have been less vocal in criticizing Biden or Vice President Harris, despite bipartisan support for stricter immigration policies from Harris.
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State of Play
- U.S. immigration courts are on track to handle record numbers of deportation cases, with 2023 marking the highest number of deportations in nearly a decade.
- ICE deported over 271,000 people in the last fiscal year, prioritizing those apprehended at the Southwest border and individuals with criminal records.
By the Numbers
ICE currently detains about 38,000 people, according to its annual report. Expanding capacity to accommodate a potential surge in raids would require constructing “soft detention” centers, or temporary housing facilities.
What’s Next
The Trump administration may act on the Biden-era proposals to further expand detention facilities. The ACLU continues to monitor developments and has received additional Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents regarding ICE’s plans for further expansion.
This unfolding situation highlights the bipartisan complexities of U.S. immigration policy and the significant implications for immigrant communities nationwide.