Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is rapidly expanding its physical presence across the US, leasing offices in nearly every state and major city. According to federal records obtained by Wired, over 150 leases and office expansions have been secured or are scheduled for completion since September, with many more planned nationwide.
The expansion is part of a secret campaign initiated by the Trump administration, which has resulted in ICE doubling in size since taking office. The agency now boasts 22,000 officers and agents across the country, with nearly $80 billion in funding to combat what the administration calls an "invasion."
In many cases, these facilities are located near sensitive locations such as elementary schools, medical offices, places of worship, and other civilian sites. For example, ICE is moving into a building next to a childcare agency in Irvine, California, while another location is situated just blocks away from a Lutheran church in Hyattsville, Maryland.
The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal buildings, has played a critical role in facilitating this expansion by bypassing usual leasing procedures and disregarding government lease procurement rules due to "national security concerns." The agency has worked closely with DHS and ICE to identify new locations for the agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) divisions.
The expansion is not limited to urban areas. In rural communities, such as Meridian, Idaho, ICE is moving into the Portico at Meridian Center, which is located near the Spalding STEM Academy high school. Similarly, in suburban Chicago, Illinois, ICE is expanding its offices at the Oakbrook Gateway, an office building situated near a Bright Horizons daycare center and a hospice center.
While many of these locations are still being finalized, they provide a glimpse into ICE's nationwide expansion plans. The agency's goal is to secure spaces for ICE across the country, with many facilities already operational or under construction.
Critics have raised concerns about the impact of this expansion on local communities, citing potential disruptions to public services and increased tensions around immigration enforcement. As one Trump administration official recently stated, "This is just a sampling of where ICE is going next in the US: Everywhere."
The expansion is part of a secret campaign initiated by the Trump administration, which has resulted in ICE doubling in size since taking office. The agency now boasts 22,000 officers and agents across the country, with nearly $80 billion in funding to combat what the administration calls an "invasion."
In many cases, these facilities are located near sensitive locations such as elementary schools, medical offices, places of worship, and other civilian sites. For example, ICE is moving into a building next to a childcare agency in Irvine, California, while another location is situated just blocks away from a Lutheran church in Hyattsville, Maryland.
The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal buildings, has played a critical role in facilitating this expansion by bypassing usual leasing procedures and disregarding government lease procurement rules due to "national security concerns." The agency has worked closely with DHS and ICE to identify new locations for the agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) divisions.
The expansion is not limited to urban areas. In rural communities, such as Meridian, Idaho, ICE is moving into the Portico at Meridian Center, which is located near the Spalding STEM Academy high school. Similarly, in suburban Chicago, Illinois, ICE is expanding its offices at the Oakbrook Gateway, an office building situated near a Bright Horizons daycare center and a hospice center.
While many of these locations are still being finalized, they provide a glimpse into ICE's nationwide expansion plans. The agency's goal is to secure spaces for ICE across the country, with many facilities already operational or under construction.
Critics have raised concerns about the impact of this expansion on local communities, citing potential disruptions to public services and increased tensions around immigration enforcement. As one Trump administration official recently stated, "This is just a sampling of where ICE is going next in the US: Everywhere."
I'm low-key concerned about this 
. ICE expanding its presence across the country is like a ticking time bomb 
waiting to go off. It's already scary enough that they're targeting places of worship, schools, and healthcare centers 
. What's next? The suburbs? Rural areas? Where can we even draw a line in the sand?! 
This feels like a total invasion 
, not just for immigrants but for communities that are already feeling marginalized 
. We need to talk about this ASAP 
and make sure our leaders are holding ICE accountable 
. Can't let fear-mongering politicians dictate where we live 
and who we trust 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good law enforcement agency taking over their local buildings? 
It's not like they're gonna be all about deporting people or anything... they'll just be "helping" the community by setting up check points at schools and hospitals. 
And those $80 billion in funds are totally justified for this national security effort – I mean, we can't let our borders get invaded without some serious action, right? 
It's great that the GSA is working so closely with DHS to make sure these locations are secure... as long as they're not just using them as a way to chill out and play video games on company time. 
The GSA basically just waved away all the rules and red tape for ICE, and now they're expanding like crazy. It's wild! 
I don't know if I agree with this expansion or not, but one thing's for sure - it's making me wanna check in on my fave social justice accounts to see what they're saying about it 
.
It makes me so sad. Like, can't we just find a way to help everyone who's struggling with immigration instead of making things worse? 
I guess that's just my 2 cents tho 
... bypassing all these rules and regulations because of "national security concerns". Um, isn't national security supposed to mean protecting us from actual threats? 
...anyway gotta wonder what's gonna happen when this expansion is all said and done 
, huh? 150+ new leases & office expansions since Sept... that's some serious expansion power 
. Rural areas like Idaho are already seeing this expansion, which isn't exactly a haven for locals 
. And don't even get me started on the potential impact on public services and community tensions 
. We need to keep an eye on this 
.
cant we just know what's goin on?
And all these facilities being located near schools and churches... that just feels super creepy 
. I'm not saying they don't need a presence, but can't they just make sure it doesn't disrupt the community too much? 
It's like they're trying to polarize everything, you know? Anyway, I guess we'll just have to keep an eye on this and see how it all plays out 
...
. It's just so convenient for them to swoop in and set up shop wherever they want. And what's with the "national security concerns" excuse? Sounds like a total cop-out to me 
, that's not good vibes for anyone... They're setting up shops near schools, churches, and even daycare centers 
. What's gonna be the impact on those communities? More stress and tension? I don't think so... We gotta consider how this affects the people living there, not just ICE 
. It's like they're trying to hide something from us 
it's not just about enforcement, it's also about the people livin in these communities, how are they gonna deal with all this?
national security concerns or whatever... i'm not buyin it.