DHS Seeks New Immigration Detention Facility Amid Increased Enforcement

Yareliz Mendez Zamora, representing the American Friends Service Committee, has observed a rise in arrivals at the Miramar Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility where she assists families weekly. She reported these observations on July 29, 2026.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated a search for a new immigration detention center in the Miami area, as per a recent procurement request. The agency aims to establish a contractor-operated facility with a minimum of 700 detention beds within 50 miles of the ICE Miami Field Office in Plantation. This request is part of several similar searches across the country to accommodate people in ICE custody.

The proposed facility must be capable of providing essential services including medical and mental health care, transportation, guard services, food service, and detention services. The procurement request, highlighted by Local 10 News, outlines the necessity for the contractor to manage all aspects of the facility, covering personnel, equipment, supplies, and services.

DHS is concurrently evaluating the need for facilities in other locations, such as those with 1,800 beds in Philadelphia and 1,500 beds each in Seattle and Denver. This need arises following the closure of a controversial detention center in the Everglades and anticipated increased ICE enforcement after the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to allow DHS to proceed with plans affecting over 300,000 Haitians, despite ongoing legal challenges. This decision has sparked concerns among immigration advocates and Haitian communities in areas such as South Florida, regarding potential upticks in ICE activity and the necessity for more detention capacity.

On July 29, advocates gathered outside the Miramar ICE facility to protest the rise in arrests throughout South Florida and the growing involvement of local governments in federal enforcement. The American Friends Service Committee highlighted unusual activities at the facility, including the presence of a company known for setting up temporary structures and portable toilets in the parking lot, indicating a possible lack of adequate facilities inside.

Billy Botsch, also with the American Friends Service Committee, noted changes in processing procedures at the facility. Vehicles usually used for discreet transfers were absent, suggesting a different temporary setup. The ICE field office was unavailable for comments, while a DHS spokesperson stated enforcement occurs routinely nationwide.

Mendez Zamora shared that families transferred from the Miramar facility often end up in hotels, isolated from contact before deportation. “They remain in these hotels for hours or a day without any contact, followed by deportation,” she said.

Miami Herald reporters Morgan Mullings and Jacqueline Charles contributed to this report. Charles, recognized for her exemplary reporting on Haiti and the Caribbean, has received prestigious journalism accolades for her work.