The Department of Homeland Security is temporarily pausing plans to buy warehouses to detain undocumented immigrants,according tomultiple reports, with the move coming less than two weeks into recently confirmed Secretary Markwayne Mullins' tenure.
In an emailed statement to USA TODAY, DHS said that "As with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals." It's not clear whether Mullin intends on moving forward with the agency's plan to convert already acquired warehouses into detention centers.
The former Oklahoma senator has previously expressed some hesitancy, noting at his confirmation hearing last month that "it's important that we're talking to the communities" where such centers would be constructed and maintained.
DHS' estimated$38.3 billion plan to buy 24 commercial warehousesand boost its detention capacity to more than 92,000 beds in a few months had received criticism from some local officials and residents in the potential locations, according to previous reporting by USA TODAY. Local authorities have voiced concerns that the facilities could overwhelm public sewage and water systems.
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The pushback contributed to the collapse of at least 11 deals, but as of early March, the federal government had purchased at least 10 warehouses.
Some proposed warehouses are expected to hold more than 8,000 individuals at a time. PresidentDonald Trump's deportation crackdown was a cornerstone of his 2024 reelection bid and first year of his second term.
DHS is currently shut down as Congress islockedin a battle over the department's funding, particularly over immigration enforcement after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal officers in Minnesota. But Republican lawmakers announced April 1 that the House is set to pass a Senate bill tofund most of the department, minus Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DHS, Mullin pauses purchasing warehouses for detention centers