Trump Plans Major Expansion of ICE Detention Capacity Amid Full Facilities

The Trump administration is planning to expand immigration detention capacity as current facilities are at full capacity, housing approximately 47,600 detainees. Officials are in discussions with the Department of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to increase bed space and manage the growing number of detainees, with a goal to eventually have at least 100,000 detention beds. This initiative has sparked opposition from Democrats, particularly in sanctuary jurisdictions like Newark, where Mayor Ras Baraka has vowed to challenge the reopening of the Delaney Hall detention center. The administration's aggressive immigration enforcement strategy includes detaining individuals regardless of criminal background, with over 32,800 arrests recorded in the first 50 days back in office. Critics argue that the focus on detention fails to address broader immigration reform needs, while supporters maintain it is necessary to maintain control over illegal immigration. As these developments unfold, the cooperation between ICE and other agencies will be crucial for the expansion of the detention system.