Los Cerritos Community News has launched a new ongoing public-interest resource tracking the purchase and attempted acquisition of buildings by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security for use as immigrant detention or processing facilities across the United States.
The ICE Detention Facility Acquisition Tracker documents confirmed real estate transactions and documented attempts based on reporting from established news organizations and verification through public records, including property deeds and official government statements. Each entry includes the city and state, a brief summary of the transaction or proposal, the reporting outlet, and a direct link to the source material.
In recent months, news outlets across the country have reported on federal agencies quietly purchasing or pursuing large warehouse and industrial properties for detention use, often without advance notice to local governments or residents. The new tracker is designed to centralize those reports in one place and provide readers with a clear, factual record of where and how detention infrastructure is expanding through real estate acquisitions.
The tracker will be updated on an ongoing basis as new purchases or attempts are reported. Only verified transactions or documented acquisition efforts are included, and speculation or unconfirmed proposals are excluded. The goal, according to LCCN, is to provide transparency and context rather than commentary.
Methodology / Standards
Inclusion criteria:
• A completed purchase or a documented attempt to acquire a building by ICE or DHS
• Credible reporting by a recognized news outlet and/or confirmation through public records
• Intended use as an immigration detention or processing facility
Exclusions:
• Rumors, speculation, or unverified claims
• Facilities operated solely by private contractors without ICE/DHS acquisition involvement
• Longstanding detention centers not tied to recent real estate activity
Listings are presented in reverse chronological order, with the most recent activity appearing first.
February 13, 2026
Done.
I updated your daily 10:00 a.m. PT alert so it now:
- searches only the last 24 hours
- checks both media reports and federal procurement/contracting signals
- checks county recorder filings in high-probability states
- expands keyword coverage to include zoning application, conditional use permit, federal lease, GSA lease, DHS lease, and ICE lease language
- notifies you only when there’s a new item, and includes city/state, 1–2 sentence summary, source name, and the direct link
San Antonio, Texas — ICE reportedly purchased the vacant Oakmont 410 building for $66.1 millionand plans to convert it into a ~1,500-bed migrant processing/detention-type center; local officials are urging federal lawmakers to oppose funding tied to the project. Source: San Antonio Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Social Circle, Georgia — Deed records indicate the U.S. government paid $128,555,500 for a warehouse site at 1365 East Hightower Trail, expected to be used as an ICE detention facility (reportedly 5,000–10,000 detainees). Source:Your Local News (by Evan Newton, The Covington News). (Your Local News)
Upper Bern Township (Berks County), Pennsylvania — Deed records show that ICE and DHS bought a 518,000‑square‑foot warehouse at 3501 Mountain Road for around $87.4 million, with plans reported to potentially convert it into an immigration detention facility as part of the agency’s nationwide expansion efforts. (Spotlight PA)
(Note: These items come from acquisitions reported within the past 24 hours; ongoing federal leasing campaigns across many U.S. cities continue to be documented in industry and procurement reporting but are not specific individual transactions within the last 24 hours.) (therealdeal.com)
FEBRUARY 10, 2026
📍 Socorro, Texas ✅
Public records confirm the Department of Homeland Security purchased a warehouse property for more than $122 million for use as an immigrant detention center, raising concerns from local officials about transparency and lack of advance notice.
Source: KFOX14
🔗 https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/dhs-purchase-of-socorro-property-for-detention-center-raises-transparency-concerns-mayor-rudy-cruz-jr-lack-of-transparency-answers-ice-department-of-homeland-security-el-paso-county-officials-immigration-migrant
📍 Surprise, Arizona ✅
DHS purchased a 418,000-square-foot warehouse for more than $70 million that is slated for conversion into an immigration processing and detention facility, according to deed records and city confirmation.
Source: Axios Phoenix
🔗 https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/04/dhs-surprise-warehouse-immigration-detention
📍 San Antonio, Texas ✅
ICE confirmed it purchased an East Side industrial facility for approximately $66.1 million that will be used to hold immigrant detainees, prompting opposition from city leaders and residents.
Source: KSAT
🔗 https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/02/05/ice-purchases-east-side-facility-to-hold-immigrant-detainees-agency-confirms/
📍 Upper Bern Township (Berks County), Pennsylvania ✅
Deed records show ICE and DHS purchased a 518,000-square-foot warehouse that may be converted into a large-scale immigration detention facility as part of a national expansion.
Source: Spotlight PA
🔗 https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2026/02/ice-warehouse-berks-county-purchase-federal-government/
📍 Hagerstown Area, Maryland ✅
Public records show DHS purchased an 825,000-square-foot warehouse for more than $102 million, raising questions about its intended use as an immigration detention facility.
Source: WYPR
🔗 https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-01-27/dhs-buys-warehouse-in-maryland-to-possibly-hold-detained-immigrants
📍 Social Circle, Georgia ✅
Federal officials purchased an industrial warehouse at 1365 E. Hightower Trail that local officials say is intended to be converted into an ICE detention facility.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta
🔗 https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/feds-buy-social-circle-facility-new-ice-detention-center-officials-say
📍 Chester, New York 🟡
DHS is attempting to purchase a warehouse in the Village of Chester that would function as an ICE processing facility capable of holding up to 1,500 people, according to reporting and local officials.
Source: Associated Press
🔗 https://apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-detention-warehouse-chester-new-york-0e9b9e3e44d63f9d7c8b2c2a66d3e6d6
📍 Kansas City, Missouri ❌
Federal officials toured a south Kansas City warehouse being considered for use as an ICE detention facility, but negotiations were terminated after local opposition and a city moratorium.
Source: KCUR
🔗 https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2026-02-09/kansas-city-agency-cuts-ties-with-company-selling-warehouse-for-ice-detention-center
