ICE Acquires New Warehouses to Convert to New Detention Facilities; Where are They and How Will They Be Used?

The United States government has launched a significant expansion of its immigration enforcement infrastructure, finalised through the multi-million-pound acquisition of industrial warehouses intended for conversion into detention facilities. Documents revealed this week show that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has spent $87.4 million (approximately £67.2 million) on a single 520,000-square-foot warehouse in Berks County, Pennsylvania. This move is part of a broader national strategy to repurpose industrial spaces into 'processing centres' to house thousands of detainees.

The Berks County property, formerly known as the Hamburg Logistics Centre in Upper Bern Township, was sold on 2 February 2026. The facility sits on a site previously famous for hosting rodeos and demolition derbies. According to federal records, this acquisition is one of at least 23 industrial sites nationwide that the agency intends to transform. Local reports indicate that the facility could soon house up to 1,500 beds, shifting the site from a commercial hub into a high-security federal installation.

Strategic Shift Toward Industrial Conversion

The use of existing logistics warehouses represents a strategic pivot for the Department of Homeland Security. By purchasing established structures like the Hamburg Logistics Centre or the Oakmont 410 warehouse in San Antonio, Texas, the government can bypass the lengthy timelines associated with new construction. In San Antonio, ICE has signed a contract for a 640,000-square-foot property that has remained vacant for three years. This Texas site is also slated to become a 1,500-bed facility.

Regional Impact and Economic Concerns

The conversion of these warehouses is meeting significant resistance from local residents and officials. In Pennsylvania, a second warehouse was purchased in Tremont Township, situated less than 300 yards from a local daycare centre. Community leaders in Upper Bern Township expressed frustration, claiming they were not consulted about the sale. Beyond safety concerns, the financial impact on the community is a primary worry for local representatives.

State Senator Chris Gebhard and Representative Jamie Barton highlighted the potential loss of property tax revenue. As the federal government is exempt from local taxes, the purchase of the Berks County warehouse could result in an annual loss of roughly $624,000 (£480,000) for the local municipality and school district. 'Our immediate concerns include the potential loss of property tax revenue... as well as security and perimeter considerations,' the lawmakers said in a joint statement. The transition from a tax-paying commercial entity to a tax-exempt federal facility creates a significant hole in local public service budgets.

National Scope of the Detention Programme

While the administration maintains that the facilities are necessary to target 'vicious criminals', independent data provides a different perspective on the likely occupants of these converted warehouses. Figures compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) as of 30 November 2025 show that 73.6% of those currently held in ICE detention have no criminal record. Many others have only minor convictions, such as traffic offences.

This discrepancy has led to concerns from advocacy groups and legal professionals. Bridget Cambria, an attorney for the non-profit Aldea, suggested that the presence of a 'giant detention centre' would have a 'chilling' impact on local communities. In San Antonio, local politicians have vowed to fight the zoning of the facilities, though federal agencies are often exempt from local planning rules. As the programme moves forward, the conversion of these warehouses marks a significant shift in the landscape of American immigration enforcement, turning vacant industrial zones into the front lines of federal policy.