Republican governors and senators are increasingly opposing Department of Homeland Security, DHS, plans to retrofit warehouses into massive immigrant detention facilities, allying with Democrats to block the expansion.
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte joined local Democrats to oppose a planned detention center and exposed DHS's nationwide warehouse conversion strategy. Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn and Roger Wicker successfully lobbied DHS to relocate proposed mega-facilities from Lebanon, Tennessee and Byhalia, Mississippi, citing infrastructure inadequacy.
A Georgia city manager locked a water meter to prevent ICE access to a warehouse planned to hold 10,000 immigrants — double the town's population.
DHS aims to detain 92,600 people by September through 34 facilities, including eight mega-warehouses holding up to 10,000 each. Communities warn the warehouse model strains water, sewage, electricity, and healthcare resources and limits local economic benefits.
DHS has purchased 10 warehouses of 34 planned, yet communities have blocked 13 other proposed sites.
Experts warn the large-scale detention expansion will normalize detainee deaths and dehumanization.
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