Republicans rise up against new ICE detention centers, appealing to DHS on infrastructural and economic concerns 

Published February 16, 2026 7:00am ET



Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) has made waves for breaking with the Trump administration on plans to establish an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Mississippi. But Wicker is far from the only Republican bucking the White House on ICE.

GOP leaders spanning the country are expressing opposition to ICE expanding detention centers holding illegal immigrants in their jurisdictions. The chorus is growing, as the Trump administration is actively working to expand holding centers for the record number of illegal immigrants being detained and deported, through $45 billion President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” dedicated to building out ICE detention facilities. 

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