By Trendsetter Tribune 
The Trump administration’s ambitious plan to build a massive new network of immigration detention centers is facing a surprising obstacle: fierce opposition from the very communities that helped elect the President. On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, reports emerged of multiple real estate deals falling through in Republican strongholds after residents mobilized against turning their local warehouses into “prison camps.”
The pushback comes as ICE attempts to scale up its capacity to a record 80,000+ detainees, funded by the $45 billion detention expansion within the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Red State Resistance: Hanover to Oklahoma City
The administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” tactics and the deaths of two citizens in Minnesota have left even conservative voters wary of federal immigration infrastructure in their backyards.
- Hanover County, VA: In a county Trump won by 26 points, over 500 protesters and local leaders successfully blocked the conversion of a 40-acre warehouse. The property owner pulled out of the deal just 48 hours after a contentious community meeting.
- Oklahoma City, OK: Mayor David Holt announced that a potential deal for a large-scale facility had collapsed. He specifically thanked property owners for “no longer engaging” with the DHS, reflecting a desire to protect local property values and community character.
- Roxbury, NJ: Residents in this Trump-voting township organized a preemptive “Keep Roxbury Jail-Free” movement, arguing that a detention center would tank home values and permanently brand the town as a “prison city.”
The “Warehouse-to-Jail” Financials
Despite the local setbacks, ICE has successfully closed on several massive properties in early 2026. The costs of these acquisitions represent only the “down payment,” as industrial sites require significant retrofitting for human habitation.
| Location | Facility Type | Purchase Price | Estimated Capacity |
| Washington County, MD | Industrial Warehouse | $102 Million | 2,500+ beds |
| Berks County, PA | Logistics Center | $87.4 Million | 1,500 beds |
| Surprise, AZ | Warehouse Property | $70 Million | 1,200+ beds |
| El Paso, TX | Mega-Warehouse | Undisclosed | 8,500 beds (Projected) |
A Nationwide Polling Shift
The aggressive push for mass detention appears to be out of step with shifting public sentiment. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted between January 20–26, 2026:
- 64% of Americans now oppose the policy of holding large numbers of immigrants in detention centers while their cases are decided.
- 66% of Americans oppose the administration’s move to suspend all applications for asylum.
- Partisan Split: While 89% of Republicans still favor a strong military presence on the border, they are nearly evenly split (51% favor / 47% oppose) on the suspension of asylum, suggesting a softening of support for the most extreme measures.
The “Plan B” Logistics
Internal memos suggest the reliance on warehouses is a “Plan B” after the administration found that “tent cities” (like the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida) were too slow to deploy and difficult to manage. However, experts warn that these warehouses often lack the plumbing, ventilation, and sewage capacity to safely hold thousands of people, posing significant liability risks for the federal government.