ICE to House Male Detainees in Federal Prisons Under New Agreement
In a significant shift in immigration enforcement, male detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will now be housed in federal prisons across the country, according to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between ICE and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The agreement, obtained exclusively by ABC News, outlines plans to utilize five federal facilities to accommodate the growing number of immigration detainees.
The designated facilities include the Federal Detention Center in Miami, the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Atlanta, FCI Leavenworth in Kansas, and FCI Berlin in New Hampshire. Notably, the agreement specifies that only male detainees will be housed in these facilities, with no plans to accommodate female ICE detainees in BOP institutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, signed on February 6, ICE is required to station at least two officers at each BOP facility housing detainees. The BOP retains final authority over who is admitted into its institutions. Additionally, detainees who exhibit disruptive behavior will be removed from BOP facilities.
The move comes amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to fulfill his campaign promises of stricter immigration enforcement. Since taking office in January, the administration has targeted various aspects of immigration policy, including birthright citizenship and refugee status. The use of federal prisons to house ICE detainees marks another step in this broader crackdown.
However, the decision has raised concerns among some officials. A source familiar with the matter told ABC News that housing ICE detainees has not been part of the BOP’s mission for some time. The source also suggested that staffing shortages within the BOP could hinder its ability to adequately manage the influx of detainees.
This development follows the administration’s controversial decision to use Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. military base in Cuba, to house migrants deemed high-risk. Critics argue that these measures reflect an increasingly aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, while supporters view them as necessary steps to address border security and immigration challenges.
As the agreement takes effect, questions remain about its long-term implications for both ICE detainees and the federal prison system.
