DoD-Backed FORT BLISS ‘LONE STAR LOCKUP’ OPENS: ICE TARGETS 5,000 BEDS TO SPEED REMOVALS

ICE has opened a new detention complex at Fort Bliss, Texas, under a $1.2B Defense Department contract. The ‘Lone Star Lockup’ starts with ~1,000 beds and plans to expand to 5,000 by 2027, serving as a processing hub to move migrants with final removal orders onto ICE flights. Supporters cite relief for overcrowded facilities; critics warn of contractor enrichment and rights concerns, citing issues at Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ and the new ‘Deportation Depot.’ Officials say Fort Bliss meets federal standards and deny reports of poor conditions.