GOP Lawmakers Clash with DHS Over Warehouse Conversions for Immigration Detention

Republican lawmakers are raising concerns about the Department of Homeland Security’s plans to convert warehouses into immigrant detention centers in their districts. Reps. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania and Paul Gosar of Arizona said they will meet with local officials during recess to discuss the purchases of three warehouses in their states, totaling $277 million.

Meuser, a former Trump campaign co-chair, told NOTUS that he has been in daily contact with DHS officials about fears that the two facilities in Berks County and Schuylkill County could strain infrastructure, security, and local jobs. He plans to visit the sites next week and hopes to mitigate negative impacts, he said.

Local opposition has emerged in counties where the warehouses are located. Schuylkill County officials expressed concerns about the sewer system’s capacity during meetings, while Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman highlighted the counties’ loss of $1.6 million annually in tax revenue due to the federal purchases.

Meanwhile, some GOP lawmakers are seeking answers from DHS about the scope and infrastructure impact of detention centers. Gosar, for example, has given DHS six days to respond regarding a 1,500-bed processing center in Surprise, Arizona. The city’s government stated it was not notified about a $70 million purchase of a nearby property.

In Mississippi, Sen. Roger Wicker successfully persuaded DHS to reconsider plans for an 8,500-bed detention center in Byhalia after opposition from local officials. DHS spokespersons denied any current plans for detention centers in Mississippi. Similarly, Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia is concerned about a warehouse in Social Circle that could house double the city’s population and has called for further evaluation to prevent community harm.

Democratic lawmakers with proposed detention facilities in their districts have also expressed frustration over lack of transparency. Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari reported that DHS refused to share any plans about potential detention centers, leaving uncertainty about future developments. DHS officials, however, stated that they are willing to collaborate with officials across party lines to expand detention capacity.

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