DHS pauses new immigrant warehouse purchases amid review of Noem-era contracts

WASHINGTON– The Department of Homeland Security is pausing the purchase of new warehouses to house immigrants while it reviews all contracts signed under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to a senior Homeland Security official.

The development comes just days after new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was sworn in last week to lead a department mired in controversy during Noem’s tenure but also central to President Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. News of the hiatus was first reported by NBC News.

The official also said that warehouse purchases already made were also being reviewed.

Asked about reports of a pause, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that “as with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals.”

The department also noted that Mullin said during his confirmation hearing that he wanted to “work with community leaders” and “be good partners.”

Mullin inherited a $38.3 billion plan to increase detention capacity to 92,000 beds by acquiring eight large-scale detention centers, capable of housing 7,000 to 10,000 inmates each, and 16 smaller regional processing centers.

The plan was developed during Noem’s term in office, but immediately faced intense opposition nationwide from residents and communities opposed to such large Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in their neighborhoods.

Many opposed, on moral grounds, the presence of ICE in their neighborhoods, while others questioned whether the facilities would deplete local resources, such as sewer and water systems.

So far, 11 warehouses have been purchased in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah, with the federal government spending a total of $1.074 billion.

But lawsuits are pending in three of the states. At the same time, the capacity of at least one warehouse has been reduced. Plans initially called for a warehouse in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise to be used as a 1,500-bed processing site, but Homeland Security now plans to limit occupied beds to 542, Surprise Mayor Kevin Sarter said at a news conference Monday.

In many cases, mayors, county commissioners, governors and members of Congress only learned of ICE’s ambitions after the agency purchased or leased space for detainees, causing shock and frustration even in regions that supported Trump.

The warehouse plan faced challenges from the start. Eight deals were canceled in places like Kansas City, Missouri, when owners decided not to sell.

Pressed about the lack of information during his confirmation hearing, Mullin acknowledged there had been problems.

“We have to protect the homeland and we are going to do it,” Mullin said. “But we obviously want to work with community leaders.”

Mullin, who took over and grew his family’s plumbing business before representing Oklahoma in the U.S. House and Senate, said “one thing I know is construction.”

He pointed out that most municipalities do not have the capacity in their waste and water infrastructure.

“So it’s important that we talk to communities and if we have additional needs, we can work with cities,” he said during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.

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Hollingsworth reported from Kansas City, Missouri.