Key Takeaways
• ICE will reopen Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed Newark facility, in Q2 2025 under a 15-year, $1 billion contract.
• Over 43,750 immigrants now held in detention exceed the 38,000 available beds, the highest level since November 2019.
• The Trump administration uses Guantánamo Bay for detention, planning capacity for up to 30,000 migrants in temporary encampments.
The Trump administration, now in its second term, has intensified efforts to expand immigration detention capacity, aiming to fast-track deportations and meet campaign promises to remove millions of undocumented immigrants. This initiative has seen a range of strategies, such as reopening shuttered facilities, adding new bed spaces, and even utilizing military bases like Guantánamo Bay 🇨🇺 for housing detainees. These moves mark one of the most aggressive escalations in years, with the impacts reverberating across immigrant communities, private detention companies, and the broader immigration system.
Reopening Delaney Hall
A major development in this expansion is the planned reopening of Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility located in Newark, New Jersey 🇺🇸. On February 27, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officially announced this move, underscoring its commitment to detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants. The facility is owned and operated by GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies in the country. Its strategic location near Newark Liberty International Airport positions it as a critical hub for processing and deporting detained immigrants efficiently.
Caleb Vitello, Acting Director of ICE, remarked that reopening Delaney Hall aligns with directives from President Trump, stating the facility would help “arrest, detain, and remove illegal aliens from our communities.” GEO Group also confirmed a 15-year contract for this facility, a deal expected to generate more than $1 billion in revenue. Plans to reactivate operations are set for the second quarter of 2025, with broader implications for detention capacity in the Northeast region.
Steps to Increase Detention Capacity
Delaney Hall is just one part of a broader strategy to expand immigration detention across the United States 🇺🇸. These efforts span several fronts:
- Reactivating Closed Facilities: ICE is reviewing and reopening facilities that were previously shut down, such as Delaney Hall.
- Adding Beds at Existing Sites: Private detention company CoreCivic announced agreements to increase bed space by over 780 beds at locations in Ohio 🇺🇸, Nevada 🇺🇸, and Oklahoma 🇺🇸.
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Use of Military Bases: The administration has begun utilizing Guantánamo Bay 🇨🇺 to house migrants and is laying groundwork for detention facilities at military bases like Fort Bliss in Texas 🇺🇸.
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Surging Overall Capacity: As of late February 2025, more than 43,750 immigrants are being held in detention—far exceeding the 38,000 officially available beds. This is the highest detainee level since November 2019.
Policy Adjustments
The Trump administration’s detention expansion doesn’t stand alone. It is supported by major shifts in policy that aim to enforce stricter immigration control. These include:
- Terminating “Catch and Release”: The practice of releasing migrants into the U.S. while they await their immigration hearings has been eliminated.
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Restoring “Remain in Mexico”: Asylum seekers must now stay in Mexico 🇲🇽 while their court cases proceed in the United States.
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Border Wall Construction Resumes: Physical barriers at the U.S.-Mexico border are being constructed once again.
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Reducing Refugee Admissions: The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been significantly cut back, lowering the number of accepted refugees.
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Cracking Down on Cartels: By classifying drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, the administration has broadened its law enforcement reach.
These measures complement the expanded detention capacity, with the combined goal of reducing undocumented migration. However, these are not without controversy.
Legal and Political Challenges
The administration’s sweeping measures have faced resistance, particularly in legal forums and state legislatures. In New Jersey 🇺🇸, for example, CoreCivic and GEO Group successfully challenged state laws prohibiting private companies from contracting with ICE. Litigation surrounding New Jersey’s restrictions remains unresolved but underlines the legislation’s limits in curbing federal detention activities.
The policies have also spurred Congressional and state-level debates. On March 5, 2025, mayors of major cities were questioned in Congressional hearings on sanctuary city policies. Critics of federal immigration reform continue to argue that expanding detention facilities contradicts humanitarian principles.
Impacts on Immigrant Communities
The rapid expansion of detention policies has profoundly affected immigrant communities nationwide. Interior enforcement by ICE has seen a sharp rise, with more arrests and detentions than at any point in the last four years. For the first time since 2021, ICE accounted for more than half of all immigrant arrests leading to detention—a notable shift from previous trends dominated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Importantly, over 52% of immigrants in detention have no criminal record, drawing criticism from advocacy groups and immigrant attorneys. Moreover, family separation policies, which were paused during the last administration, have resumed under Trump’s renewed directives. Thousands of families, including children, are now held in ICE detention centers, reigniting debates about their rights and well-being.
Criticism of Expanded Detention
Unsurprisingly, the decision to increase detention capacity on such a large scale has drawn sharp criticism from rights advocates and some lawmakers:
- Humanitarian Issues: Critics argue that widespread detention creates significant psychological harm, especially for children and families. Advocates highlight long-term trauma experienced by those held for extended periods in ICE facilities.
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Living Conditions: Reports of poor medical care, inadequate food provisions, and overcrowding continue to raise questions about conditions at detention centers.
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Cost Implications: With the federal government spending billions on detention expansion, some believe the funds could be redirected toward community-based alternatives or legal services.
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Access to Legal Representation: Advocacy groups argue that detainees often lack adequate legal counsel, making it challenging for them to present their cases fairly in court.
The issue of fair hearings becomes particularly important as the administration balances its detention goals with due process guarantees under U.S. law.
Guantánamo Bay and Future Expansions
One of the most controversial elements of this expansion involves Guantánamo Bay 🇨🇺, previously associated with housing terrorism suspects. Plans are underway to increase this facility’s capacity, potentially accommodating up to 30,000 immigrants in temporary tent-like encampments. This decision has alarmed many, who view the use of a naval base for immigration detention as setting a troubling precedent.
Further expansions are planned. Multiple facilities, including those operated by private companies like GEO Group, are expected to come online later this year. Additionally, the passage of legislative measures like the Laken Riley Act and Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act signals that significant resources will continue to be allocated toward bolstering immigration enforcement.
Final Thoughts
The Trump administration’s aggressive push to expand detention capacity highlights its commitment to reshaping the U.S. immigration system. Facilities like Delaney Hall and Guantánamo Bay 🇨🇺 are becoming symbols of this approach—central to efforts to enforce stricter immigration rules and deport more undocumented individuals.
However, these policies come with undeniable consequences. Immigrant communities face increased arrests, family separations, and prolonged detentions, many of which involve individuals without a criminal history. Critics also question whether the immense financial and humanitarian costs are justified.
As the administration proceeds with its plans, debates over the ethics, legality, and efficiency of this approach are unlikely to fade. The broader discussion on whether these measures align with American values continues to shape the national conversation on immigration reform.
For accurate, official updates on immigration policies, including detention and deportation procedures, you can visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website here. Additionally, analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these policies may shift how other countries view the U.S. immigration system.
The developments ahead may determine the trajectory of not only U.S. migration policy but also the experiences of countless individuals caught in its web. Only time will reveal the full impact of these sweeping changes.
Learn Today
Immigration Detention → The practice of holding individuals suspected of violating immigration laws, typically while awaiting legal proceedings or deportation.
Private Detention Companies → Corporations contracted by governments to manage detention facilities, often profiting from housing detainees, such as GEO Group.
Catch and Release → A discontinued policy allowing immigrants to remain in the U.S. while awaiting court hearings, instead of being detained.
Remain in Mexico → A policy requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed.
Family Separation Policies → A controversial practice where detained immigrant families, including children, are separated during the detention process.
This Article in a Nutshell
The Trump administration, in its second term, intensifies immigration detention efforts with expanded facilities like Newark’s Delaney Hall and Guantánamo Bay. Critics highlight humanitarian concerns, including family separations and poor conditions, as over 52% of detainees lack criminal records. This aggressive policy reshapes U.S. immigration—but at what cost to compassion and justice?
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Panama to Free Migrants from Detention, Defying U.S. Deportation Push
• Does Detention Always Mean Deportation for Illegal Immigrants in the US?
• ICE to Focus on Deporting Migrant Families, Reopens Two Detention Centers
• Migrants Speak Out Against Abuse at Guantánamo Bay Detention Center
• New Jersey Rallies for Celal and Emine Emanet After ICE Detention
