By: Joshua Rosenberg. February 12, 2026.
Documents obtained by The Rosenberg Brief suggest that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility the federal government is planning to build in Hammond, La. will house up to 9,000 detainees. The documents show a “project status” date of July 1, 2026.
“Conceptual plans call for the remodel of a detention facility; medical facility; and multi-residential development,” a Construct Connect newsletter reads. “The Hammond facility would house 9,000 detainees and serve as a staging ground for deportation.” Construct Connect is a leading software provider and platform for the commercial construction industry. The Washington Post previously reported that the Hammond site would house 9,000 detainees. Nola.com previously reported that local officials were left in the dark over the facility, and neither its location nor its start date were known.
NBC News previously reported that there were 20 potential locations DHS has targeted for the detention centers. DHS may be seeking to house as many as 8,000 detainees at some locations, according to NBC. For context, the largest federal prison, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, houses some 6,300 inmates. The facility at Port Allen would reportedly house some 500.
In addition to the detention facility in Hammond, ICE is reportedly planning to construct one in Port Allen, La. as well.
Update: This story has been updated with new information. 2/12/26
Correction: a previous version of this story incorrectly stated the country’s largest prison. That error has been corrected. 2/28/26
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