WASHINGTON (February 25, 2026) – Nationwide, communities are grappling with the Department of Homeland Security’s plans to build ICE detention centers. These plans include proposals to transform warehouses into large-scale facilities which will house thousands of detainees.
These plans raise questions about whether legal processes requiring evaluation of environmental, historic, and local land use impacts have been followed before selecting sites. Sara Bronin, professor at the George Washington University Law School, is an expert on zoning and can add insight to this news.
“Federal agencies normally coordinate with local officials, review zoning codes, and conduct rigorous site analyses before locating major facilities,” Bronin said. “When those steps are rushed or skipped, communities may have legal grounds to challenge siting decisions under federal environmental and preservation laws, and local zoning may still influence where detention centers can be located.”
To schedule an interview with Sara Bronin, contact Claire Sabin at claire [dot] sabin
gwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu).
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