Congress Takes on ICE Warehouse Detention with New Ban Warehouse Detention Act

Laura Spivak, an organizer with Washington County Indivisible, has spent months fighting the construction of an ICE detention warehouse just five miles from her home. “We’ve protested, we’ve written and called, we’ve fought legal battles,” she said at a press conference Thursday in support of the Ban Warehouse Detention Act.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), seeks to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using taxpayer funds to purchase, convert, or operate commercial warehouses as immigration detention centers. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate two weeks ago by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.).

Local Victory and Ongoing Concerns

Spivak has seen some success in her fight against the detention center in her community. Last week, a judge temporarily blocked the construction of a Williamsport, Maryland facility, where ICE planned to jail up to 1,500 people. However, Spivak warns this may only be a temporary win without broader support.

The Ban Warehouse Detention Act, she argues, would “prevent local politicians from colluding with DHS to convert warehouses into detention camps, and prevent them from shutting out the voices of residents like us.”

DHS Spending and Community Impact

As of February, the DHS planned to spend over $38 billion purchasing 24 warehouses nationwide to detain up to 92,000 people. So far, 11 warehouses have been purchased. Spivak believes this funding could be better used elsewhere in Williamsport, where local infrastructure and tourism need investment.

“A prison camp will not help Williamsport develop economically,” she said. “It will drive down property values and bring shame to a town that deserves a helping hand, not a federal slap in the face.”

Federal Pause and Calls for Action

In early April, the DHS announced it would pause the purchase of new warehouses while reviewing facilities acquired under the recently-fired Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. However, Rep. Tlaib emphasized that a pause is insufficient.

“We need to save lives right now,” Tlaib said Thursday. “A young lady that was in the facility for over a year at 33 years old, and never had a seizure before, had a seizure because of malnutrition and sleep deprivation. I mean, this is a form of torture.”

Tlaib has been in contact with immigrants held in warehouse detention in Michigan, where some have been detained for months despite signing voluntary departure agreements. Others report deteriorating health due to poor conditions.

Immigrants at a GEO Group-owned facility in North Lake, Michigan, have launched a hunger strike demanding access to adequate food, medical care, and legal representation.

Community Resistance Grows

Local opposition to ICE detention continues nationwide. Rapid-response networks in major cities alert residents to ICE activity and provide support for immigrants. Online maps track current and future detention warehouse purchases in communities across the country.