The Department of Homeland Security has temporarily halted plans to buy additional warehouses intended for imSenate confirms Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary while agency shutdown drags onmigrSenate confirms Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary while agency shutdown drags onant housing and processing. The move comes as new Secretary Markwayne Mullin orders a full review of all contracts signed under former Secretary Kristi Noem, according to senior DHS officials. The pause, first reported by NBC News, also includes scrutiny of warehouses already acquired.
Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary while agency shutdown drags on |
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DHS has spent roughly $1.074 billion on 11 warehouses in states including Arizona, Georgia, and Texas. These are part of a broader push to expand detention capacity to 92,000 beds through eight large-scale centers and 16 smaller regional facilities. Some sites, like the one in Surprise, Arizona, have seen planned bed counts scaled back amid local pressure.
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| Arizona among states where ICE is buying huge warehouses |
Local backlash and legal challenges prompt closer look
Communities in multiple states have raised concerns over infrastructure strain, lack of transparency, and the scale of the facilities. Several proposed deals have already fallen through, and lawsuits are active in at least three states. Mullin, during his confirmation, stressed the need to work with local leaders on water, sewage, and other municipal limits.
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| Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary while agency shutdown drags on |
Aerial view of a major detention facility under review
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Live update (on April 2026 )
No new purchases are moving forward while the internal review continues. Officials describe the pause as standard for a leadership transition but have not set a timeline for next steps. Development on already-acquired sites is expected to proceed. Markets and immigration watchers are monitoring any fresh statements from DHS or the White House this morning.
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