Overview

Los Cerritos Community News has introduced a new resource aimed at tracking the acquisition and attempted acquisition of properties by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This initiative is focused on documenting the expansion of immigrant detention and processing facilities across the United States.

The ICE Detention Facility Acquisition Tracker compiles verified real estate transactions and documented attempts, providing transparency regarding federal agency activities in local communities. It aims to centralize reports about these acquisitions, which have often occurred without prior notice to local governments or residents.

Key details

  • The tracker is an ongoing public-interest resource.
  • It focuses on ICE and DHS's acquisition of buildings for detention or processing purposes.
  • Each entry includes the city, state, summary of the transaction, reporting outlet, and a link to the source.
  • Recent reports indicate federal agencies are purchasing large warehouse and industrial properties for detention use.
  • The tracker is updated continuously with new purchases or attempts.
  • Only confirmed transactions and documented acquisition efforts are included.
  • Speculation or unverified proposals are excluded from the tracker.
  • Facilities operated solely by private contractors without ICE/DHS involvement are not listed.
  • Longstanding detention centers not linked to recent real estate activity are also excluded.
  • Listings are presented in reverse chronological order.
  • Newly surfaced records indicate plans for a 473,000-square-foot warehouse in Romulus to be retrofitted into an ICE detention facility.
  • The project may require permits or approvals that local officials could attempt to block.

Context

The establishment of the ICE Detention Facility Acquisition Tracker comes amid growing concerns over the expansion of immigrant detention facilities and the lack of communication from federal agencies to local communities regarding such developments.

What happens next

The tracker will continue to be updated as new information becomes available, allowing the public to stay informed about the ongoing activities of ICE and DHS in relation to property acquisitions for detention purposes.

What we don't know yet

Details regarding the specific permits or approvals required for the Romulus project and the potential responses from local officials are not confirmed.