A new bill introduced in Congress aims to curb the expansion of large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, as lawmakers debate the Trump administration’s efforts to increase federal capacity for holding migrants pending immigration proceedings.

The proposed legislation would place tighter limits on funding, leasing arrangements and operational approvals for what critics have described as “warehouse-style” detention centres.

Supporters of the bill argue that such facilities risk prioritising volume over due process and humane standards, calling for stricter oversight, transparency requirements and caps on detention contracts.

The Trump administration has defended its immigration enforcement strategy as a necessary response to sustained border pressures and a growing backlog in immigration courts.

Officials maintain that expanding detention infrastructure ensures consistent enforcement of federal law, reduces absconding rates and supports orderly processing of asylum and removal cases.

Proponents of the new measure contend that alternatives to detention — including supervised release programmes and community-based monitoring — can achieve compliance at lower cost while avoiding prolonged confinement.

They also seek enhanced reporting requirements and environmental reviews before new facilities can be constructed or converted.

Republican lawmakers aligned with the administration argue that limiting detention capacity would undermine border enforcement and weaken federal authority.

They say sufficient holding space is critical to implementing immigration law effectively and deterring irregular migration.

The bill is expected to face a challenging path in a divided Congress, where immigration policy remains one of the most polarising issues.

Committee hearings in the coming weeks are likely to feature testimony from Department of Homeland Security officials, local authorities and civil society representatives.

As the debate unfolds, the measure reflects broader tensions over the balance between enforcement priorities and detention reform, with lawmakers weighing fiscal costs, operational needs and humanitarian considerations in shaping federal immigration policy.