US Immigration Authorities Plan Massive Detention Network Across Midwest States
Internal documents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency have revealed plans to establish a sprawling detention network across five states in the Upper Midwest, with a projected budget of up to $50 million. The network will enable ICE agents to transport detainees hundreds of miles away from their primary location, effectively expanding the agency's reach into neighboring states.
According to the internal planning document reviewed by Wired, the network is designed to be privately run and can accommodate up to 1,000 people in detention at any given time. The facility is expected to serve as a transfer hub for ICE operations across Minnesota and four neighboring states - North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.
The plan has been met with widespread criticism from local officials and civil rights groups, who have described it as an "unprecedented deployment" and a "federal invasion." Protests have erupted in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, with demonstrators accusing federal agents of using excessive force against peaceful protesters. The Trump administration is currently appealing a federal judge's ruling that restricts the use of force by federal agents participating in Operation Metro Surge.
The proposal has sparked concerns about mass detentions, long-distance transfers, and the normalization of detention decisions made elsewhere. Local residents have expressed fears about the impact on their communities, with some arguing that reopening a dormant prison in Appleton, Minnesota, will bring back jobs but also normalize mass detentions.
The plan to expand ICE's detention capacity has been years in the making, with federal planning documents from last year pointing to a nationwide expansion of detention capacity and mega-facilities capable of housing thousands of people. The proposed network is part of this broader strategy, which aims to establish a robust and efficient system for detaining immigrants across the country.
As the debate over Operation Metro Surge continues to unfold, many are left wondering about the implications of ICE's plans on immigrant communities, local residents, and the broader social fabric of America.
Internal documents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency have revealed plans to establish a sprawling detention network across five states in the Upper Midwest, with a projected budget of up to $50 million. The network will enable ICE agents to transport detainees hundreds of miles away from their primary location, effectively expanding the agency's reach into neighboring states.
According to the internal planning document reviewed by Wired, the network is designed to be privately run and can accommodate up to 1,000 people in detention at any given time. The facility is expected to serve as a transfer hub for ICE operations across Minnesota and four neighboring states - North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.
The plan has been met with widespread criticism from local officials and civil rights groups, who have described it as an "unprecedented deployment" and a "federal invasion." Protests have erupted in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, with demonstrators accusing federal agents of using excessive force against peaceful protesters. The Trump administration is currently appealing a federal judge's ruling that restricts the use of force by federal agents participating in Operation Metro Surge.
The proposal has sparked concerns about mass detentions, long-distance transfers, and the normalization of detention decisions made elsewhere. Local residents have expressed fears about the impact on their communities, with some arguing that reopening a dormant prison in Appleton, Minnesota, will bring back jobs but also normalize mass detentions.
The plan to expand ICE's detention capacity has been years in the making, with federal planning documents from last year pointing to a nationwide expansion of detention capacity and mega-facilities capable of housing thousands of people. The proposed network is part of this broader strategy, which aims to establish a robust and efficient system for detaining immigrants across the country.
As the debate over Operation Metro Surge continues to unfold, many are left wondering about the implications of ICE's plans on immigrant communities, local residents, and the broader social fabric of America.
. I mean, have you seen the scale of this proposed detention network? 1,000 people in a single facility is crazy! And it's not just the numbers that are concerning, but also the fact that these facilities will be privately run... that's like handing over our laws to private companies 
. What happens when they're more interested in profits than in treating detainees humanely?
. People are already speaking out against this, saying it'll bring jobs back but also normalize mass detentions... that's a slippery slope 
. We need to think carefully about what we're doing and how it affects everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable.
. This isn't just about immigration; it's about human rights and dignity. We should be working to build bridges, not walls 
.
i cant even believe this is real...ice is basically saying "hey we dont care bout ur lives" and just detaining ppl like they r disposable. 50 million bucks for a network that can hold 1000 ppl is straight up crazy, like what are they gonna do w/ all those people? 
i cant stand how politicians talk about 'national security' when it's all about keeping ppl in line. and whats w/ the private facilities? isnt this supposed 2 be about protecting americans not just some corpo profiteering off ppl's misery. 
local communities r gonna suffer from this, i can feel it.
I'm really worried about this new detention network being set up in the Midwest 
. People in these states are going to feel the effects of this network long after it's built, whether it's through increased costs, strain on resources, or the erosion of trust between law enforcement and residents 
.
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and the fact that it's gonna be privately run and can hold 1,000 ppl at once is just wild 
. we gotta start thinking about what kind of society we want to build here - one where ppl are treated with dignity and respect or one where we're just gonna keep locking people up willy-nilly? 
i'm definitely leaning towards the former.
[image of a person in a wheelchair being thrown away]
[GIF of a family tree with roots getting pulled out]
[gif of a group of people giving a big thumbs up to a computer screen with ICE logo on it getting crossed out]
[meme of someone eating pizza while walking away from a detention center]
[GIF of a megaphone blasting out "detention-free zone"]
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[meme of a giant border wall being torn down]