WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is reviewing the potential sale of large warehouses and aircraft purchased by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed that several of the eleven acquired warehouses, intended to serve as detention centers holding up to 8,000 immigrants each, are under consideration for sale.

ICE has not yet listed the facilities for sale, and no final decisions have been made. Officials also said ICE no longer needs the capacity to detain 100,000 immigrants nationwide, a target established under Noem’s leadership. The agency has paused new warehouse purchases since Markwayne Mullin became DHS secretary in March. The DHS inspector general is auditing ICE’s warehouse purchases to determine whether the agency met detention needs in a cost-effective manner.

ICE is also evaluating whether to sell or return several planes acquired under Noem, including a Boeing 737 Max 8. Traditionally, ICE has relied on chartered flights for deportations; the recently acquired aircraft marked the first time the agency owned deportation planes directly. No decision has been made on the planes’ future.

“Under new leadership, DHS is assessing all our resources, including aircraft, to maximize efficiency and continue to deliver on President Trump’s mission of securing the homeland for all Americans.” a DHS spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, “Secretary Mullin is 100% focused on ensuring the needs of our department are met while being the best possible steward of taxpayer dollars.”

The warehouses drew opposition in multiple communities. Maryland successfully sued to block a planned facility near Hagerstown, and several Republican lawmakers criticized local ICE warehouse proposals. In Social Circle, Georgia, city officials filed a lawsuit in mid-May alleging ICE paid more than five times the property’s assessed value for a warehouse. City Manager Eric Taylor said the town opposed the facility due to infrastructure concerns.

“We are a quaint, small Southern town, and this would triple the population overnight and have all kinds of strain on our water and sewer infrastructure.” Taylor said. He welcomed news of a potential policy shift but remained cautious. “That’s great news. I’ll believe it when I see it.” he said, adding he wants written confirmation from DHS.