The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to build and purchase large warehouses to hold immigrants. This move comes even as President Donald Trump has spoken about taking a “softer stance” on immigration enforcement.

According to a report by NBC News, these facilities could be big enough to detain up to 8,000 immigrants at one time. A DHS document reportedly lists more than 20 possible sites where such centres could be set up. For comparison, the largest federal prison in the United States currently holds around 4,000 inmates.

Locations Identified for New Facilities

So far, officials have secured three sites for the proposed detention centres. One is in Phoenix, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has paid $70 million to construct a warehouse that is as large as seven football fields.

Another building in Philadelphia has been bought for $87.4 million. A third facility in San Antonio has also been purchased, costing about $37 million.

However, the plan has already drawn criticism. Pro-immigrant groups in states like Colorado, Mississippi, and Arizona have raised concerns. Lawmakers in Arizona fear that building such large detention centres could signal stricter immigration enforcement in their region.

Trump Speaks of ‘Softer Touch’

At the same time, Trump has suggested that immigration actions may need a more balanced approach. He recently said that a “softer touch” might be required while still maintaining strict control.

“I learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough,” Trump said in an interview with NBC’s “Nightly News” when asked what he had learned from Minneapolis.

His comments came after the government decided to pull back 700 federal officers from Minnesota, where ICE operations had increased in recent months.

Earlier, Trump had also said he wanted to “de-escalate” the situation in the state. “We have Tom Homan there now. We put him in there, he’s great. And they met with the governor, the mayor, everybody else. … We’re going to de-escalate a little bit,” he said.

Federal Deployment Continues

Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, had announced the withdrawal of 700 federal officers from Minnesota. Even after the reduction, around 2,000 agents are expected to continue working in the area as part of ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.