ICE Seeks Over 700 New Detention Beds in South Florida Region

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched a search for a turnkey detention facility capable of housing at least 700 detainees in the South Florida region, according to agency records. The facility must be located within 50 driving miles of ICE’s Miami Field Office at 865 SW 78 Ave. in Plantation. The procurement would mark a significant expansion of detention capacity in the area.

The July 10 request for proposals specified that the facility must provide comprehensive services including housing, transportation, medical care, security personnel, and food service for both male and female detainees classified as low or medium custody level. The agency indicated a preference for facilities that could also accommodate high-custody detainees. ICE simultaneously issued similar requests for detention space in multiple regions nationwide.

The search comes as ICE pursues additional detention capacity in Philadelphia, Seattle, and Denver, requesting at least 1,800 beds in the Philadelphia area, 1,500 in Seattle, and 1,500 in Denver. The nationwide expansion effort underscores growing demand for detention infrastructure across the country.

Recent conditions at the Federal Detention Facility Miami downtown prompted the search. ICE detainees and their families reported inadequate air conditioning and limited access to drinking water earlier this month at the facility located at 33 NE 4th St. The Federal Bureau of Prisons characterized the air conditioning issue as temporary and stated detainees had access to bottled water supplies.