President Trump's ambitious plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants is facing a significant hurdle: space. The current capacity of immigration detention centers is around 41, 000 beds, but there are an estimated 11. 7 million people living in the U. S. illegally. To achieve his goals, Trump needs more detention space, and that comes at a cost.

The Department of Homeland Security estimates that it takes about $165 per day to hold one adult in a detention center. A bill like the Laken Riley Act, which aims to detain more people accused of certain crimes, would need an additional $26. 9 billion to add 110, 000 beds. This is a massive increase from the current budget.

Trump is also deploying troops to the southern U. S. border and has invoked the Alien Enemies Act to combat cartels. He's ended the "catch and release" practice, which allows some migrants to live in the U. S. while awaiting court proceedings. Now, they'll be detained and deported.

ICE, the agency in charge of immigration enforcement, uses various facilities around the country to detain immigrants. However, there are no facilities specifically designed for immigrant families, who make up about one-third of arrivals at the southern border.

John Sandweg, a former acting director of ICE, said that if the Trump administration wants to significantly increase detention capacity, new facilities will need to be built. The American Civil Liberties Union estimates that ICE is considering expanding detention space in at least eight states.

Private companies are already betting on a building boom, with stock prices rising for major immigration detention providers. A fast-track budgeting process in Congress could provide more funding as early as April.

Critics warn that a hyper-militarized police state could arise, vastly expanding the world's largest detention system for migrants. They also question whether the military has the capacity to provide appropriate detention facilities.

Trump's Deportation Plans: A Test for Detention Centers

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