DHS and Navy Push Massive Immigrant Detention Project

• DHS Launches Migrant Detention Centers
• $10 Billion via the Navy
• Mass Immigrant Detention Plan

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is redirecting massive amounts of federal funding to create a nationwide network of immigrant detention centers — a move that directly involves the U.S. Armed Forces.

The DHS has allocated $10 billion through the U.S. Navy to speed up the construction of new detention facilities, according to federal contracting documents reviewed by CNN.

This arrangement is designed to bypass the usual administrative delays and ensure that the new DHS immigrant detention centers are built quickly.

DHS Expands Network of Immigrant Detention Centers

Sources familiar with the project confirmed that construction on some facilities could begin as soon as next month — marking an unprecedented step in the expansion of the U.S. immigration detention system.

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The program is a collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, using the Navy’s Supply Systems Command as the contracting arm responsible for hiring companies to design, build, and maintain the new sites.

The decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and dramatically expand national detention capacity.

Centers Designed to Hold 10,000 People Each

According to multiple sources, the new DHS immigrant detention centers will primarily consist of “soft-sided” tents — temporary structures designed to accommodate large numbers of people in a short period.

These facilities could be built on existing naval bases or other federal lands, though final locations are still pending contract awards.

Each center is expected to hold up to 10,000 people, representing a major increase in national detention capacity.

Preliminary locations include Louisiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Utah, and Kansas, though the list may expand as the program develops.

This flexible infrastructure model has been used by the DHS in previous migration surges when detention demand exceeded traditional facility capacity.

Pressure to Expand Immigrant Detention Centers Capacity

The surge in immigration arrests has created an urgent need for more space to process and detain individuals while their legal status is determined or deportation orders are carried out.

Historically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has operated with a budget sufficient to fund approximately 41,000 beds for temporary detainees.

However, the administration is seeking to double that number — a goal pushed by White House border czar Tom Homan.

The urgency of this immigrant detention project has led DHS to pursue expedited contracting channels, bypassing competitive processes that typically slow procurement timelines.

A source noted that the department has been “jumping from one contracting vehicle to another” to accelerate deals after previous projects faced long delays due to federal restrictions.

Conclusion

Using the U.S. Navy as a contracting intermediary marks a new phase in U.S. immigration policy, solidifying the military’s direct involvement in detention infrastructure.

As bids and construction progress, concerns remain about transparency, humanitarian standards, and the ultimate fate of thousands of migrants who will be held under this new system of DHS immigrant detention centers.