By Trendsetter Tribune 
On Friday, February 6, 2026, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) issued a stark warning regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) burgeoning “warehouse-to-detention” network. The Congresswoman’s comments come as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) utilizes a massive $45 billion funding injection from last year’s appropriations to rapidly acquire and convert industrial warehouses into mass holding centers.
The “Black Box” Allegations
Ocasio-Cortez described the new infrastructure as an accountability vacuum designed to operate outside the reach of the law and public sight.
- “Disappearing People”: AOC warned that these facilities, often located in remote industrial zones, are creating a system where both immigrants and U.S. citizens can be “disappeared” into a network that lacks the transparency of traditional jails or prisons.
- Secret Police Tactics: She argued that the use of masked federal agents and “unmarked” warehouse sites constitutes a “secret police program” aimed at silencing political dissent and intimidating vulnerable communities.
- Lack of Oversight: Her comments follow a recent federal court ruling that ordered DHS to restore unannounced congressional oversight after members of Congress were physically blocked from inspecting facilities in Minnesota and Maryland.
The Warehouse Expansion: “Amazon Prime for Humans”
The DHS “warehouse plan” has faced intense scrutiny from local leaders and human rights advocates who criticize the speed and scale of the project.
| Metric | Detail |
| Current Capacity | Roughly 70,000 detainees (up from ~40,000 in 2024). |
| Expansion Goal | Aiming for 150,000 beds across 23–76 new warehouse sites. |
| The “Amazon Prime” Quote | ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons reportedly likened the logistics of the network to an “Amazon Prime” operation for human beings—a comparison AOC called “dehumanizing and grotesque.” |
| Site Examples | 8,500-bed facilities are planned for Social Circle, GA and Byhalia, MS, with a 1,500-bed site in Williamsport, MD. |
Legislative Standoff and Shutdown Deadline
AOC’s rhetoric reflects the high-stakes negotiations currently paralyzing the Capitol. DHS is operating on a two-week funding extension that expires this Friday, February 13, 2026.
- Democratic Demands: AOC and her colleagues are insisting on “accountability riders” in the next budget, including a ban on agents wearing masks, mandatory body cameras, and a prohibition on warrantless entry into households.
- The Republican Response: Senate Majority Leader John Thune has dismissed these demands as “unrealistic,” arguing that limiting DHS tactics would amount to “defunding law enforcement” during a national security crisis.
As the shutdown deadline nears, the “warehouse system” has become the focal point of a broader national debate over the limits of executive power and the definition of American due process.
AOC on DHS Warehouses: I think every American should be alarmed. They are building—and have built—a black box system that disappears people, both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) February 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM
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