ICE ‘Mega’ Detention Center Proposed for Warehouse in Hutchins

January 31, 2026 – Plans for what could become the nation’s largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Texas are drawing growing scrutiny from local officials, clergy, and immigrant advocates, even as federal authorities have confirmed few details.

The proposed facility would convert a vacant, 1 million-square-foot warehouse in Hutchins, south of Dallas, into a massive detention center. According to internal ICE documents reviewed by media outlets, the Hutchins site would operate as a “mega” detention center, alongside a similar expansion in El Paso. The El Paso facility would hold about 8,500 people, with additional smaller processing centers planned for San Antonio and Los Fresnos.

Critics warn the scale of the project could strain local infrastructure, raise health and safety concerns, and spread fear among immigrant families. “We should not be housing human beings in a warehouse meant for packages,” said the Rev. Eric Folkerth, who joined other clergy members in a recent rally opposing the plan.

Local officials say they have received little information. Hutchins Mayor Omar Vasquez said the city has had no confirmation from federal authorities, and Dallas County Clerk John Warren said no deed or sale documents have been filed for the property. ICE’s Dallas office has not responded to inquiries.

The Department of Homeland Security said ICE has no new sites to announce but is expanding detention capacity nationwide as arrests increase. Advocates argue the expansion signals a major escalation in enforcement, raising concerns about overcrowding and human rights inside large-scale detention centers.