Minnesota Immigrants: Texas Detention & El Paso Release Concerns

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to open new detention centres in El Paso County, Texas, near Clint. These facilities come as a $1.2 billion Army contract was awarded to Acquisition Logistics LLC to build a large detention “tent camp” in the Texas desert, despite the company’s lack of experience running correctional facilities.

Expansion of Detention Capacity

The planned detention centres will have a capacity of 8,500 individuals. This expansion follows a trend of increased immigration detention, with the number of children held by ICE having risen sixfold since the return of the second Trump administration. A planned “mega” ICE detention facility in Far East El Paso previously faced hurdles.

Did You Know? Acquisition Logistics LLC had never won a federal contract for more than $16 million prior to being awarded the $1.2 billion Army contract.

Court Access and Detainer Practices

On December 17, 2025, a federal court temporarily halted an oversight policy regarding immigration detention facilities, granting Congress temporary access to immigration detention records. Harris County Jail received 738 ICE immigration holds, averaging almost 13 per day, according to available ICE records.

Expert Insight: The expansion of detention capacity, coupled with legal challenges to oversight and concerns about the qualifications of contractors, suggests a significant shift in immigration enforcement strategies and potential challenges to due process.

Legal Challenges and Detentions

There have been at least 2,300 cases where federal judges have ruled that immigration officials illegally detained individuals without bond. The South Texas Family Detention Center, with a capacity of 2,400 beds, currently detains immigrant children and their parents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capacity of the new ICE detention centres?

The new detention centres planned for El Paso County are expected to hold 8,500 individuals.

Who was awarded the contract to build the detention facilities?

Acquisition Logistics LLC was awarded a $1.2 billion Army contract to build a large detention facility in the Texas desert.

Has there been any legal action regarding immigration detention?

A federal court temporarily halted an oversight policy of immigration detention facilities on December 17, 2025, granting Congress temporary access to records.

As ICE continues to expand detention capacity, what impact will these changes have on immigration proceedings and the rights of those detained?