DHS Seeks New Immigration Detention Facility in Miami

Yareliz Mendez Zamora, representing the American Friends Service Committee, noted a rise in arrivals at the Miramar Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, which she visits weekly to support families with ongoing cases. Standing outside the facility on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, she expressed her observations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is searching for a new immigration detention facility in the Miami area, according to a recent procurement request. The agency seeks a contractor-operated, or ‘turnkey,’ facility with at least 700 detention beds within 50 miles of the ICE Miami Field Office in Plantation. This request is part of a broader initiative to establish several detention facilities across the nation for individuals in ICE custody.

These facilities must provide housing, medical and mental health services, transportation, guard services, food, and detention services. An official statement noted that under this contract, the contractor will offer all personnel, management, equipment, supplies, and services required to perform all aspects of the agreement.

DHS is also pursuing facilities with at least 1,800 beds in the Philadelphia area and at least 1,500 beds each in the Seattle and Denver areas. This development follows the recent closure of Alligator Alcatraz, Florida’s controversial immigration detention center.

As the Trump administration plans to enhance ICE enforcement, especially after the termination of Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS), there is a growing call for more detention space. The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed DHS to execute plans to terminate TPS for over 300,000 Haitians, despite ongoing legal disputes.

Immigration advocates and Haitians in South Florida, New York, and Springfield, Ohio, have voiced concerns over potential increases in ICE operations necessitating additional detention facilities. On Wednesday, activists gathered outside the Miramar ICE check-in site to protest the rise in arrests across South Florida and the expanding role of local governments in federal immigration enforcement.

American Friends Service Committee activists observed unusual activity at the Miramar facility, including a vehicle from a company known for setting up temporary structures, seen interacting with field office officials. Billy Botsch, representing the American Friends Service Committee, found the situation “unusual.” He also noted the presence of portable toilets, suggesting inadequate internal facilities for planned activities.

Botsch mentioned changes in processing at the Miramar building, stating ICE was not using the standard garage for intake and seemed to have set up a temporary processing space. The lack of clarity around these developments raised concerns.

The ICE field office did not respond to requests for comments. A DHS spokesperson stated the agency does not discuss future operations but remains active in enforcement nationwide.

Yareliz Mendez Zamora also reported that families from Miramar are being moved to hotels before deportation. Families are held at the facility for short periods before their transfer to hotels, where they are often denied contact. “They are held for a couple of hours, maybe a day, sent to a hotel, and not allowed to contact anybody,” Mendez explained, describing a scenario where family contact was lost for over 24 hours before deportation.

Miami Herald journalist Morgan Mullings contributed to this report. Jacqueline Charles, recognized for her extensive coverage of Haiti and the Caribbean, is noted for her Pulitzer Prize finalist work following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and her 2018 Maria Moors Cabot Prize.