Texas Opens Largest Illegal Alien Detention Facility in U.S History

The largest illegal alien detention facility in American history has just been completed in Texas, federal officials have confirmed.

The unprecedented facility opened and began operations on Sunday in El Paso.

The detention center, located at Fort Bliss, has an initial capacity to hold 1,000 illegals, WCVB reported.

However, it is designed for expansion to accommodate nearly 5,000 people.

President Donald Trump’s administration said the project will represent “the largest federal detention center in history” once complete.

The opening comes as Trump continues his efforts to locate and detain illegal aliens nationwide.

In a statement, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Tricia McLaughlin, said new funding has made the project possible.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill has provided historic funding to help us carry out this mandate, especially by securing enough detention capacity to maintain an average daily population of 100,000 illegal aliens and 80,000 new ICE beds,” McLaughlin said.

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) visited the facility prior to its official opening and described it as the “Lone Star Lock Up,” according to KFOX.

Cornyn emphasized that the migrants being detained had already failed to comply with legal proceedings.

“It’s important for people to understand — we are not talking gardeners or housekeepers,” Cornyn said.

“These are people who didn’t show up to court-ordered hearings.

“There is no due process concern.

“They have no legal right to be here.”

Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott had announced construction of the facility on July 26, underscoring the state’s support for federal enforcement efforts.

“We will help arrest, jail, & deport illegal immigrants,” Abbott confirmed at the time.

5,000-bed migrant detention center planned for Texas’ Fort Bliss.

The Trump Admin. is building the LARGEST illegal immigrant detention center right here in Texas.

We will help arrest, jail, & deport illegal immigrants.https://t.co/sCofHIOtEC

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 26, 2025

Video footage released ahead of the opening reveals the large-scale detention center.

Officials say the facility will play a central role in expanding federal immigration enforcement.

The large migrant processing and detention facility under construction in Fort Bliss, Texas, will begin operations on Aug. 17, Border Report has learned.https://t.co/bL8jQt0Xja pic.twitter.com/5YSsTwYbzY

— KTSM 9 News (@KTSMtv) August 7, 2025

Recent polling indicates that the administration’s actions have significant public backing.

A Marquette survey from July showed a majority of Americans favor deporting migrants who are in the country illegally.

“Trump long ran on securing the southern border and deporting illegal aliens, and as he has continued to make good on that promise, he continues to have the public’s backing,” Breitbart reported.

Administration officials have repeatedly emphasized that the focus of federal deportation efforts remains on individuals with criminal records or pending charges.

“The Trump administration has long maintained that the vast majority of deportees are criminal illegal immigrants who either have convictions or pending charges,” Breitbart noted.

The new facility’s opening comes amid record numbers of migrant detentions.

It was revealed last week that federal authorities were holding more than 60,000 illegal migrants in detention centers nationwide.

With the El Paso site and other new facilities under construction, that figure is expected to rise.

The El Paso center represents one of several large-scale projects tied to the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy.

Federal officials have said the goal is to ensure that those in the United States without legal status, particularly those who fail to comply with court proceedings, face detention and eventual removal.

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