The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun to purchase large warehouse spaces in at least eight states for the purpose of establishing new detention centers for immigrants. This acquisition process has been marked by a lack of transparency, as local authorities are frequently not informed prior to these significant transactions. Recently, the DHS purchased two warehouses in Maryland and Arizona for substantial amounts—$102 million and $70 million respectively. Reports indicate that Maryland officials were only notified of the purchase two days before the deal was finalized, raising concerns about the decision-making process behind these detention facilities.

Maryland State Delegate April McClain criticized the secretive planning of these detention centers, saying in a statement that "planning a detention center behind closed doors is not governance; it is intimidation." This sentiment reflects the worries of various stakeholders about the implications of such facilities on immigrant communities and local governance. The sudden and uncommunicative nature of these purchases has ignited discussions about the broader implications of immigrant detention policies and the treatment of new arrivals in the United States.

As the DHS continues to acquire needed sites for these centers, the push for increased detention facilities raises ethical questions surrounding the treatment of immigrants and the effectiveness of current immigration policies. The actions taken by the DHS may impact community relations, local economies, and the lives of immigrants facing detention in a country where immigration has become an increasingly contentious issue. Local leaders and community members express the need for greater transparency and communication from federal sources regarding such impactful developments.