US races to build migrant tent camps after $58 billion funding boost: Report
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US President Donald Trump (wearing red cap), Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (left) and US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (wearing white cap) visiting the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention centre in Ochopee, Florida.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is racing to build migrant tent camps nationwide after receiving US$45 billion (S$58 billion) in new funding, aiming to expand detention capacity from 40,000 to 100,000 beds by year end, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on July 19.
The agency is prioritising large-scale tent facilities at military bases and ICE jails, including a 5,000-bed site at Fort Bliss in Texas and others in Colorado, Indiana and New Jersey, the report added, citing documents seen by WSJ.
“ICE is pursuing all available options to expand bed-space capacity,” a senior ICE official told Reuters, adding that the “process does include housing detainees at certain military bases”.
Top US officials at Homeland Security, including US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have expressed a preference for detention centres run by Republican states and local governments rather than private prison companies, the report said.
The agency declined to confirm the specifics of the plan to expand detention capacity.
Ms Noem said last week that she was in talks with five Republican-led states to build other detention sites inspired by the “Alligator Alcatraz” facility
“We’ve had several other states that are actually using Alligator Alcatraz as a model for how they can partner with us,” Ms Noem told a press conference in Florida without naming any of the states. REUTERS
