ICE Moving Forward with Texas Warehouse Detention Contracts Despite Federal Probe and Lawsuits — San Antonio and Socorro Facilities Expected to Begin Operations by Early 2027

The Washington Post reported on May 14, 2026 that ICE is proceeding with awarding new warehouse detention contracts in Texas — specifically in San Antonio and Socorro (near El Paso) — despite an ongoing federal investigation into billions of dollars in related warehouse acquisitions and multiple pending lawsuits. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin had previously called for a review of the warehouse detention expansion after earlier contracts drew scrutiny for purchases at above-market prices; however, the Washington Post reported that the Texas contracts will move forward, with environmental assessments underway at both locations and operations expected by early 2027. San Antonio City Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez stated: 'This facility would have a significant negative impact on our community, including the parks, schools, and neighborhoods immediately nearby.' Officials in Socorro similarly voiced opposition despite their location in a historically conservative state. Simultaneously, the ACLU published a report on May 14 — 'Deaths in Detention: ICE Is Rapidly Expanding Detention Camps into Warehouses Despite Record Deaths' — documenting that 152 new immigration detention facilities have opened across 39 states since January 2025, that custody deaths now occur at a rate of one every six days (17 in the calendar year 2026 through May 2026), and that ICE's 'Detention Re-engineering Initiative' aims to acquire 20+ warehouses and expand capacity to 96,000 people. The ACLU noted that the warehouse expansion is proceeding despite documented medical failures, abuse by guards (Internal ICE records revealed May 4 showing widespread use of force), and no new independent oversight after DHS closed the OIDO on May 5, 2026.