Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Miami has constructed a large temporary structure at the Krome North Service Processing Center to accommodate a growing number of detainees. This newly erected tent facility, referred to by observers as a “tent city,” is designed to house hundreds of individuals in ICE custody. The development comes amid ongoing debates around immigration enforcement and capacity concerns, particularly as federal authorities attempt to manage the flow of undocumented migrants within the legal framework. The tent is fully outfitted with basic necessities such as cots, ventilation systems, and even televisions.
Florida Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson recently visited the site and offered a detailed account of what she witnessed. According to Wilson, the individuals being housed in the tent are primarily undocumented workers rather than criminals. She described the facility as a stark representation of the challenges the nation faces with immigration policy. In her remarks to The Washington Post, Wilson emphasized that many detainees are long-term residents who have contributed to local communities, making the situation all the more difficult to witness.
The tent structure itself is designed to hold up to 400 detainees, with a split-level layout—200 individuals can be housed on the lower level and another 200 on the upper level. Wilson noted that ICE officials informed her of plans to replicate these temporary setups quickly and efficiently whenever the facility reaches capacity. These structures can reportedly be constructed in as little as two weeks, enabling ICE to respond rapidly to changes in detainee numbers while staying within federal compliance regulations.
However, the growing reliance on temporary facilities reveals deeper systemic issues. Wilson highlighted that despite efforts to transfer detainees to other locations to prevent overcrowding, ICE is struggling to keep up with the volume. This issue, she suggests, has been intensified by recent legislative measures such as the Laken Riley Act, which may be contributing to a surge in detentions. The Act, aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement, has placed additional pressure on detention centers like the one in Miami.
At this time, ICE has not issued an official response to inquiries regarding the expansion or long-term plans for detainee management at the Krome facility. The agency’s silence leaves open questions about how it plans to address ongoing capacity challenges and whether temporary structures will become a more permanent part of the immigration enforcement landscape. Meanwhile, lawmakers and advocacy groups continue to monitor the situation, raising concerns about the conditions and rights of those being detained under these expanding policies.