ICE Facility Rumors in Huntsville: What Federal Records Actually Show

By Selina Xia Zamacois

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS — Rumors circulating on social media and in community conversations suggest that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may be planning to build a new detention facility in Huntsville, Texas. The speculation stems from a recent Time magazine article referencing Huntsville as a location under consideration for a “potential facility expansion.”

A review of federal and state government sources, however, shows that Huntsville has long hosted ICE operations, and there is no official indication of a new detention center being planned or constructed in the city.

ICE’s presence in Huntsville is not new. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facility directory (tdcj.texas.gov), the Goree Unit includes office space used by federal immigration officers. These officers review cases involving inmates who may face deportation after completing their state prison sentences.

This arrangement dates back decades, to the era of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the federal immigration agency that existed before ICE was created in 2003 under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). INS maintained a presence at Goree for many years, and ICE continued that role after DHS reorganized federal immigration enforcement post‑9/11.

The Time article’s reference to a “potential facility expansion” has been widely interpreted as meaning a new detention center. But federal documentation does not support that conclusion.

ICE’s official detention facility list, published on ice.gov, shows no new Huntsville facility in planning, procurement, or construction phases. DHS also has not issued any environmental impact notices or construction-related filings — which are legally required for new federal detention centers.

Given this, the most plausible interpretation is that ICE may be considering expanding administrative or office space at the Goree Unit to help federal officers process immigration cases more efficiently.

When inmates at the Huntsville Unit complete their sentences and have immigration detainers or removal orders, ICE transfers them to contract detention facilities. These facilities are operated by private companies under federal contract and include:

• Montgomery Processing Center (Conroe) – GEO Group
• IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility (Polk County) – Management & Training Corporation (MTC)
• Houston Processing Center – CoreCivic

ICE’s own documentation confirms that Texas is one of the states most reliant on contract detention centers. The agency frequently renews or renegotiates contracts rather than building new facilities, a process that avoids the decade‑long timeline required for federal construction. ICE maybe looking to purchase these existing detention centers.

There is no .gov evidence that ICE is planning to build a new detention center in Huntsville. Discussions about purchasing or restructuring existing contract facilities do not involve Huntsville and do not indicate new construction.

Why a New Huntsville Detention Center Is Unlikely

Federal detention centers require:

• Congressional funding
• DHS approval
• Environmental impact studies
• Public notice and comment periods
• Multi‑year construction timelines

None of these steps appear in federal records for Huntsville. ICE’s infrastructure planning documents, procurement notices, and facility listings show no new Huntsville project.

Given ICE’s existing administrative footprint at the Goree Unit and its reliance on nearby contract facilities, a new Huntsville detention center is not supported by any official federal or state information.

Despite rumors, Huntsville is not on track to receive a new ICE detention facility. ICE already operates at the Goree Unit, and any future changes appear limited to administrative expansion, not construction. Federal and state .gov sources confirm that ICE continues to rely on regional contract facilities for detention needs, and no new Huntsville project is in development.

If you’re waiting for a brand new ICE detention center to break ground in Huntsville, official records suggest you’ll likely be waiting a long time.