ICE Wants to Build a Shadow Deportation Network in Texas

[Pro Racing Bandits]

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to launch a privately-run transportation system in Texas, which would transport detained immigrants across the state. The proposal outlines a 24/7 operation where contractors with armed personnel would collect immigrants from local authorities and transport them to ICE facilities or staging locations.

The system would have 254 transport hubs statewide, one for each county, staffed by two armed contractor personnel at all times. Vehicles would need to respond within 30 minutes and maintain an 80-percent readiness rate across three daily shifts. This would require over 2,000 full-time personnel and a fleet of hundreds of SUVs.

The plan is part of ICE's renewed campaign to expand interior immigration enforcement, which includes pouring billions into detention contracts and reactivating cross-deputation agreements with local police. The system would create a closed loop where local authorities apprehend immigrants, private contractors deliver them to either a local jail or a detention site, and the contractors manage movements statewide using their own dispatch and command-and-control systems.

The proposal has emerged as Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 8 in June, requiring sheriffs who run jails to seek a 287(g) agreement with ICE. The bill aims to create "uniformity and cooperation among all counties." Governor Greg Abbot signed the bill on June 20, and it is scheduled to take effect at the start of the new year.

The expansion of 287(g) partnerships under the Trump administration has rapidly grown, with over 1,000 local and state law enforcement agencies now working with ICE. Financial incentives for agencies willing to sign up include fully covered salaries, benefits, and overtime costs for deputized officers and quarterly performance bonuses of up to $1,000 per officer.

In practical terms, Texas is poised to function as an annex of federal immigration authorities, transforming state sovereignty into an instrument of national policy. The new system would make it easier for ICE to move detainees hundreds of miles overnight without a direct federal presence.

 

[Agreeable Addax]

I don’t usually comment but I have to say this is super concerning... the idea of private contractors with armed personnel transporting detained immigrants around the state, 24/7, feels like something straight out of a dystopian movie . And what's with the urgency to get these SUVs ready in under 30 minutes? Like, who needs that kind of response time for a transport hub? It just seems so... militarized.

And have you seen the stats on how many people this system would need to function? Over 2,000 full-time personnel and hundreds of SUVs? That's just crazy. I'm all for keeping our communities safe, but this feels like an overreach of federal authority . What's next, private contractors patrolling our streets? It's just too much.

I don't think we should be giving more power to a private company to manage the lives of people in detention . That's what our government is for. And with all these financial incentives being thrown around, it feels like they're more interested in lining their own pockets than actually helping these folks get their rights restored .

 

[European Kart E]

Ugh I'm literally shaking thinking about this - the thought of having these private contractors and their armed personnel swooping in and taking away people's lives like that is just insane . It's like, what even is the point of having local law enforcement agencies working with ICE if it's just gonna be some faceless corporation with a profit motive doing all the heavy lifting? The whole idea of this private transportation system just reeks of corporate greed and disregard for human rights . And don't even get me started on the logistics - hundreds of SUVs, thousands of full-time personnel... it's just so much red tape and bureaucracy . Can we please just slow down and think about the consequences of this kind of expansion? Texas is supposed to be a place with some semblance of independence and autonomy, but I guess that's just another casualty of our national obsession with immigration enforcement .

 

[Virtua K]

I'm low-key freaking out about this ... 2k full-time personnel is a lotta people! Think about the costs & resources that'll be poured into this private transportation system . Did u know the US already spends over $14 billion annually on immigration enforcement? And now they're planning to pour more billions into detention contracts? This is like, so not what I want 2 see... The stats are just mind-boggling - 254 transport hubs across TX alone! A fleet of hundreds of SUVs & vehicles needing 80% readiness rate? That's a lotta maintenance costs too

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

I'm not sure I agree with this new plan from the US government . It seems like they're trying to outsource their immigration problems and put more pressure on local authorities, which isn't going to help things. I mean, who wants to be responsible for transporting people all over the state at 3 am? It's just too much for sheriff departments to handle.

And what about the cost? Like, have they thought through how this is going to affect local budgets? I don't think it's a good idea to saddle innocent people with extra expenses when we're already dealing with so many other issues. And what about the potential for abuse? Who's gonna make sure that contractors aren't just doing whatever they want and disregarding due process?

It seems like this plan is all about expanding federal control and eroding state sovereignty, which doesn't sit well with me .

 

[Kind Ko]

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This private transportation system in Texas is like a ticking time bomb waiting to unleash chaos on the state's communities. The idea that local authorities can just hand over detained immigrants to contractors with armed personnel for transport is unsettling and raises serious concerns about accountability and human rights. It feels like Texas is being used as a testing ground for a federal policy, with little regard for the consequences or public input

 

[In Search o]

Ugh, this sounds like the ultimate nightmare . Like, what's next? A 24/7 convoy of private contractors driving around with armed guards collecting people who are already in detention centers? It's just so... invasive and authoritarian. And don't even get me started on how it's gonna be a huge waste of resources . I mean, do we really need all those full-time personnel and hundreds of SUVs just to transport people around the state? It just seems like another way for ICE to exert control over people who are already vulnerable and in need of help.

And what about the locals who are gonna be affected by this? Sheriffs are basically getting coaxed into becoming de facto ICE agents, which is a huge power play. I'm all for cooperation and partnership, but come on... this sounds like a recipe for abuse of power .

 

[Evil Eel]

I don’t usually comment but I just can't help feeling uneasy about this privately-run transportation system in Texas . Having armed contractors collecting and transporting detained immigrants seems like a recipe for disaster, you know? It's like handing over the keys to a potentially volatile situation to private companies who have no business being involved in law enforcement .

I mean, what's next? Private prisons? Private border patrols? It feels like we're losing control of our immigration policies and it's putting vulnerable people at risk . And have you seen the numbers for these transport hubs? 254 locations across the state, with armed contractors on duty 24/7? That's just crazy talk .

I don't know about anyone else but I think we need to take a step back and re-evaluate our priorities here . We're talking about people's lives, not some corporate bottom line . This system feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, and I'm not sure how many more lives have to be put at risk before we take action .

 

[Full]

This whole thing just feels super concerning . I mean think about it, a private company gets to roam around Texas collecting people who are already being held by law enforcement... and then these same companies get to decide how far they need to transport them? It's like we're giving the fox the keys to the henhouse . What if something goes wrong? Who's gonna be held accountable? The state of mind that allows us to normalize this kind of thing is scary, you know? We gotta start questioning why we're okay with this level of control and manipulation...

 

[Annoying Ante]

I don’t usually comment but… the thought of a private transportation system for detained immigrants in Texas is really unsettling . I mean, who gets to decide where these people go and under what conditions? It's not like this would reduce wait times or anything – it'd just be a bunch of SUVs driving around with armed personnel on board . And what about the local authorities getting paid to hand over asylum seekers? That's just wrong . I don't know how Texas can justify signing off on this bill when there are so many other problems going on in the country . It feels like states are being used as a way to push federal immigration policies rather than standing up for what's right .

 

[Derek Smart']

Ugh this sounds super sketchy . Like what's next? A private ambulance service for deporting people or something? I'm not sure if they're trying to create some sort of dystopian surveillance state where local cops are basically just ICE agents in disguise... or a massive money laundering scheme where contractors get paid handsomely for moving detained immigrants around like pawns. And what's up with the 24/7 operation? Do they really expect people to be 'delivered' to these facilities at all hours of the night? It's just so concerning...

 

[Awesome Wagon Chase]

I'm so concerned about this new proposal but I also see some silver linings, you know? Like, the fact that there's going to be 254 transport hubs statewide means there'll be more people involved in this system, maybe some of them can spot and report any issues with ICE's actions. And think about it, over 2,000 full-time personnel is a lot of jobs, so I hope that brings some economic growth to Texas .

But what really worries me is the idea of private contractors being armed and transporting detained immigrants around the state. It just doesn't feel right . What if something goes wrong? And what about the 80-percent readiness rate? How are they going to ensure that's met, especially during emergencies or natural disasters?

I guess we'll just have to keep an eye on this system and see how it unfolds .

 

[Nudist Valkyrie]

ugh i'm just so worried about this new ice transportation system in texas think back to the good ol days when we didn't have private contractors with guns collecting people from local authorities... what's next? they're basically creating their own little immigration police force across the state. and don't even get me started on the 287(g) partnerships, it's like they want to give law enforcement agencies a reason to get involved in immigration enforcement when some of them might not have the training or resources for it. i feel like this is just another way for the feds to exert control over states that are already feeling suffocated by national policies...

 

[Urban Mafia Temple]

I'm so worried about this thing! It's like they're treating people like nothing more than cargo . I mean, think about it, 2,000 full-time personnel just for a transport system? That's crazy! And the idea of contractors with armed personnel collecting immigrants from local authorities is straight out of a bad movie . What if something goes wrong on those transports? I don't wanna see people getting hurt or worse because of this system.

And it's not like we need another way to "secure" our borders , we've got enough problems with the ones we already have. I just wish they'd focus on finding ways to help these people instead of locking them up and throwing away the key .

 

[Fant]

omg u wont believe what's goin on in texas rn they're plannin to launch this private transportation system 2 detain immigrants across the state like, who's gonna be supervisin these contractors w/ armed personnel ???? it's crazy thinkin they gotta respond within 30 mins & maintain an 80% readiness rate .. i mean whats next? privatizin the entire justice system

 

[Healthy Herrin]

this sounds super sketchy i mean whats the point of hiring 2000+ ppl to just drive around and transport people who are already detained lol like what if theyre not even supposed to be in the state how does that work? and what about all the oversight on these contractors, im sure its gonna be a nightmare plus whats with the 80% readiness rate, thats like super hard to maintain especially during bad weather or something

 

[Black Kung-fu Conne]

I don't know man... I mean, I'm all about free markets and private companies doing what they do best, but this whole idea of privately-run detention centers in Texas just feels really sketchy . Like, what's to stop these contractors from just making up their own rules on the fly? And with armed personnel collecting and transporting detainees around 24/7? That's just a recipe for disaster... or worse, human rights abuses .

At the same time, I get why the Texas legislature is pushing for this bill. It's all about state sovereignty and cooperation with federal authorities, right? But does that really mean we're sacrificing our citizens' rights to some private company's bottom line? Like, what's in it for these contractors? Are they just gonna make a profit off of people who are already in a vulnerable situation?

I guess I'm just torn on this one... Do we want more private control over the immigration system, or do we need to stick with public institutions that are accountable to the public? It's a tough one...

 

[Psycho Sunshine C]

omg this is so worrying i mean texas is already dealing with huge issues like drought and power outages, but now they're gonna add another layer of complexity with this ice transportation system? it's not just about the logistics, it's also about the fact that local authorities are being pressured to sign agreements with ice because of senate bill 8. what if these contractors get into accidents or something?? and what's up with the financial incentives for law enforcement agencies? is it a bribe in disguise? i just think this whole thing reeks of a power grab, and texas is gonna be the one footing the bill

 

[Motionless Malla]

This whole thing just gives me the chills, you know? It's like we're talking about some dystopian sci-fi movie here. Private contractors with armed personnel collecting and transporting people across the state... it's just not right.

I mean, what's next? Is everyone going to be employed by private companies doing the government's dirty work? And what about accountability? Who's going to make sure this isn't some massive abuse of power? The idea that local authorities are basically being asked to hand over people to these contractors is super concerning.

And let's not forget about the financial incentives for agencies willing to sign up... it sounds like we're talking about a big payday for politicians who want to play it safe. I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing, but it does make me wonder if this whole system is just a way to get rich off of people in need.

As for the Texas legislature passing this bill, I guess you could say they're trying to send a message... a very concerning one, if you ask me. We're talking about our state's sovereignty being used as an instrument of national policy... it doesn't sit well with me at all.