Estimated $9.6 Billion Capital Cost for ICE Warehouse Detention Program

Acquisition and conversion costs for 23 warehouses with 76,500 detention beds

Note: Warehouse acquisition costs ($1.98B) based on average of known purchases. Conversion costs ($7.65B) estimated at $100,000 per bed—substantially less than new prison construction ($286k-$500k per bed) but accounting for extensive detention-specific buildout. Total excludes annual operating expenses. Sources: Bloomberg (Jan 2026); state corrections construction data (2020s).
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