Proposed Deportation Facility Near Border Spurs Immigration Strategy Questions

Border patrol agents detaining people near a fence

America’s largest deportation center, capable of housing 10,000 migrants, is set for construction at Fort Bliss in El Paso as the Trump administration accelerates its immigration enforcement efforts.

Key Takeaways

Construction of a massive deportation center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas is imminent, capable of housing up to 10,000 migrants
U.S. Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll confirmed preparations will begin “any day” pending final approval from the Office of the Secretary of Defense
The facility will be operated by the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The project aligns with President Trump’s campaign promises to implement mass deportations and reverse Biden-era immigration policies
ICE currently has nearly 48,000 immigrants in custody, already exceeding its funded capacity

Construction Set to Begin Near Existing ICE Facility

A major deportation center is slated for construction at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, located off Montana Avenue and George Dieter Drive near an existing ICE facility. U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll recently announced that preparations for the site are imminent, though the project still requires final approval from the Office of the Secretary of Defense before construction can begin. The facility represents a significant expansion of the administration’s immigration enforcement infrastructure.

“The process of preparing it and getting it ready to be built out will start to occur any day. This is such an incredibly important mission. We believe to keep the American people safe,” said U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll.

The Department of Homeland Security will operate the facility in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While the facility is expected to eventually house up to 10,000 migrants awaiting deportation, specifics regarding which demographic groups will be detained—whether family units, single males, women, or unaccompanied minors—have not yet been confirmed.

Expansion of Deportation Infrastructure

Fort Bliss is not new to housing migrants, having previously accommodated unaccompanied migrant children and temporarily sheltered Afghan refugees. The current plan calls for an initial capacity of approximately 1,000 individuals, with potential for significant expansion. According to reports, the Trump administration intends to construct additional deportation facilities in Utah and New York, signaling a nationwide approach to immigration enforcement.

In the first seven weeks of Trump’s administration, federal authorities deported 28,319 migrants, averaging 555 deportations per day. The scale of these operations has already stretched existing resources thin. As of March 23, ICE reported nearly 48,000 immigrants in custody, a figure that exceeds the agency’s funded capacity. Meanwhile, the number of non-criminal immigrants detained has increased by 500% from mid-January to late March.

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Implementation of Campaign Promises

The El Paso deportation center represents a concrete implementation of President Trump’s campaign promises to carry out mass deportations and reverse immigration policies established during the Biden administration. The New York Times first reported the plans for this facility in February, and recent announcements confirm the administration is moving forward rapidly with construction plans.

Fort Bliss Deputy Committee General Paul Krattiger will serve as “Site Monitor” for the project, overseeing its development. The administration’s rapid expansion of detention capabilities indicates a sustained commitment to its immigration enforcement agenda. Border enforcement and deportation operations remain central to the administration’s approach to immigration policy, with this facility serving as a flagship example.

While proponents view the center as necessary for border security and immigration enforcement, critics have raised concerns about the humanitarian implications of large-scale detention facilities and mass deportation operations. The center’s construction marks a significant departure from previous administrations’ approaches to immigration enforcement and represents one of the most visible manifestations of the current administration’s border security strategy.