Trump Administration Plans 5,000-Bed ICE Detention Hub Fort Bliss Texas

The Trump administration has awarded a $1.26 billion contract to Acquisition Logistics LLC to build and operate a 5,000-bed immigration detention facility at Fort Bliss, Texas, marking a significant militarization of immigration enforcement. The facility, expected to be completed by September 2027, will be the largest of its kind, housing single adult detainees under the authority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move has sparked strong criticism from local migrant advocates, who condemn the project as inhumane and harmful, citing past abuses at Fort Bliss and calling for investment in alternative immigration solutions. Fort Bliss, historically used for refugees and prisoners of war, is now being repurposed as a deportation hub, with plans reportedly considering expansion to hold up to 10,000 detainees and serving as a model for similar facilities on other military sites nationwide. The Department of Defense and ICE are collaborating under a memorandum of understanding, and the use of Army land for this purpose was approved by the Secretary of Defense earlier this year. This development has intensified concerns about the aggressive approach to immigration enforcement under President Trump's administration, highlighting a broader strategy to militarize border and immigration operations.