Trump Administration Awards $1.26 Billion Contract for Nation's Largest Immigration Detention Center in Texas

The Trump administration has awarded a massive $1.26 billion contract to construct the nation's largest immigration detention facility at Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas, capable of housing 5,000 detainees in a sprawling tent city expected to open by September 2027. The U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday that Virginia-based Acquisition Logistics LLC received nearly $232 million upfront to build and operate the facility, which will serve as a cornerstone of President Donald Trump's aggressive mass deportation campaign targeting over one million immigrants annually.

The unprecedented scale of the project underscores the administration's commitment to dramatically expanding detention capacity as immigration arrests surge nationwide. Current Immigration and Customs Enforcement data shows nearly 57,000 individuals in detention, a significant increase from fewer than 40,000 at the end of the Biden administration.

Massive Investment in Immigration Infrastructure

The Fort Bliss detention center represents the largest single investment in immigration detention infrastructure in recent years. According to Bloomberg, which first reported the contract details, the facility will transform the million-acre Army base into a deportation hub equipped with an airport for removal operations.

"We're seeking any available bed space that adheres to our detention standards. The quicker we secure the beds, the more individuals we can remove from the streets."

— Tom Homan, Trump's border enforcement chief, speaking to reporters Friday

The project originates from Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocated $45 billion specifically for detention capacity expansion, aiming to double ICE's capabilities to 100,000 beds by the end of the year. The legislation provides a total of $170 billion for border and immigration enforcement over five years, increasing ICE's funding nearly tenfold from its current annual budget.

Contractor Profile Raises Questions

Acquisition Logistics LLC, the Virginia-based firm selected for the massive undertaking, appears to lack significant experience managing large-scale detention operations. According to Military.com, the company's previous government contracts have focused primarily on modest administrative support services, with most deals valued under $2 million.

Bloomberg reported that while Acquisition Logistics has worked as a private contractor for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marines for over a decade, it does not appear to have experience with detention facilities. The company received over $5 million from the U.S. Army earlier this year for "lodging and conference room services" related to border operations.

The Defense Department selected Acquisition Logistics from among 12 competing bids, according to Pentagon procurement documents. The company's website was reportedly down as of Tuesday, and attempts by USA Today to contact representatives were unsuccessful.

Military Base as Detention Hub

Fort Bliss, spanning 1,700 square miles across the Texas-New Mexico border, offers vast desert terrain ideally suited for large-scale detention operations. Army engineers completed leveling a 60-acre site in April, accessible through El Paso streets without requiring entry through the base's main gates.

The location is situated behind a public transportation park-and-ride facility on Montana Avenue, on land that previously housed a range control site known as Site Monitor. The Pentagon describes the planned structures as "temporary, soft-sided holding facilities," a term in military terminology referring to tent-based detention infrastructure.

Stars and Stripes reported that while the Army will manage the contract, it will not be involved in facility operations. The base has previously housed unaccompanied migrant children and Afghan refugees following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Controversial Conditions at Similar Facilities

The Fort Bliss announcement comes weeks after Florida opened "Alligator Alcatraz," a controversial tent detention center built on an isolated airstrip in the Everglades swampland. The Florida facility, which currently holds up to 3,000 detainees with plans to expand to 5,000, has faced intense criticism over living conditions.

According to Human Rights Watch, immigrants held in federal detention centers in Florida endure "inhumane conditions such as abuse, medical neglect, severe overcrowding, freezing cells without bedding, and insufficient hygiene supplies".

Civil rights groups have filed lawsuits alleging detainees at Alligator Alcatraz were denied water, given maggot-infested food, and exposed to mosquitoes without adequate protection. The facility's rapid construction and harsh conditions have raised concerns about whether similar tent-based detention centers can meet federal standards.

Broader Military Involvement in Immigration Enforcement

The Fort Bliss contract reflects the Defense Department's expanding role in immigration operations under the Trump administration. Pentagon officials confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering two additional military installations—Camp Atterbury in Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey—for immigration detention purposes.

NPR reported that internal Pentagon memos indicate these military sites will temporarily detain "single adult non-high [priority] illegal aliens with no connections to transnational criminal organizations or drug-related activities". The bases will remain available for this purpose through September, though officials declined to specify when operations might begin.

"As you all know, we need to double our capacity and detention beds because we need to facilitate getting people out of this country as fast as possible and to sustain our operations."

— Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking earlier this month

The Pentagon has also approved expansion of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for immigrant detention purposes, according to NPR's review of internal documents.

Aggressive Deportation Goals Drive Expansion

The administration's detention expansion directly supports Trump's pledge to conduct "the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America," targeting 3,000 arrests daily. The Texas Tribune reported that the government has already removed more than 111,000 people from the country in fiscal 2025, which began October 1.

Since taking office in January, Trump has dramatically increased immigration enforcement operations. The Defense Department now works closely with Customs and Border Protection along the Mexico border and provides security for federal agents conducting immigration raids in California.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement data shows detention numbers reaching record highs of nearly 57,000 individuals, far exceeding the 41,500 beds officially allocated by Congress. This overcrowding has created urgent pressure for additional capacity through facilities like Fort Bliss.

Economic and Political Implications

The Fort Bliss contract represents Acquisition Logistics' largest government award by an enormous margin. Over the past five fiscal years, the company has received a total of $29 million in federal contracts. The sudden jump to a $1.26 billion project raises questions about the firm's capacity to manage such a massive undertaking.

Reason magazine noted that ICE is prioritizing nine additional projects across Colorado, Indiana, and New Jersey to add more than 9,000 detention beds, with Fort Bliss listed as the highest priority for operational status by August. The aggressive timeline reflects the administration's urgency in expanding detention infrastructure.

The Washington Examiner reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced five other states are in discussions to open large detention facilities using Florida's Alligator Alcatraz as a model. This suggests the Fort Bliss project may be the first of multiple massive detention centers planned nationwide.

Human Rights Concerns and Legal Challenges

Immigration advocates have expressed alarm about the rapid expansion of tent-based detention facilities, particularly given documented problems at existing installations. The Independent reported that civil rights groups have filed lawsuits over conditions at Alligator Alcatraz, alleging detainees were denied due process and legal counsel.

Using tents in West Texas desert conditions presents unique challenges, according to The Texas Tribune, which noted that immigrant rights activists have long worried about housing detainees in the region's scorching heat. The facility's remote location and military base setting may further complicate legal access and oversight.

Bloomberg warned that immigration advocates fear the facility "will likely not meet federal standards," based on conditions observed at similar tent-based detention centers. The rushed construction timeline and the contractor's apparent lack of experience with detention facilities compound these concerns.

Unprecedented Scale and Uncertain Impact

The Fort Bliss detention center represents a watershed moment in American immigration enforcement, combining unprecedented scale with military infrastructure in pursuit of mass deportation goals. As the facility moves toward its 2027 completion date, its success or failure may determine the future of tent-based detention across the country.

The project's $1.26 billion price tag and 5,000-bed capacity surpass those of previous detention facilities, potentially creating a new model for immigration enforcement infrastructure. However, questions remain about contractor capabilities, living conditions, and legal compliance as the administration races to expand detention capacity ahead of its ambitious deportation timeline.

With multiple states considering similar facilities and additional military bases under evaluation, the Fort Bliss contract may herald a fundamental shift toward militarized immigration detention on an industrial scale, fundamentally reshaping how America approaches border enforcement and immigrant detention policy.