Source: Fortune.com
Summary
ICE has purchased large warehouses in at least 20 US communities to transform into detention centers without warning local officials. The agency’s $45 billion expansion aims to increase detention capacity to 92,000 beds. Communities are objecting to mass detentions, citing concerns about strain on local services and tax revenue. ICE has used military contracts to build the facilities, allowing for secrecy and speed.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
ICE’s expansion plans have caught communities off guard, with some learning about the agency’s ambitions only after the purchase or lease of space for detainees. Local officials have raised concerns about the strain on services, tax revenue, and the potential for “inhumane detention facilities.” Despite the concerns, ICE has moved quickly to acquire and build the facilities, using military contracts to bypass usual processes and safeguards.
As one official noted, “They do these things in silence so that they don’t get opposition.” The situation is a classic example of a government agency moving swiftly and secretly to achieve its goals, leaving local communities to deal with the consequences.
Author: Evan Null
