Veronica Escobar

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has canceled plans to turn three warehouses in Socorro into immigration detention and training facilities.

According to a release by El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, the Socorro warehouses, located along Eastwind Avenue and bought by the Department of Homeland Security for more than $122 million, will no longer be used by ICE as they have been transferred to the General Services Administration (GSA) to be put on sale.

Below is Escobar's full statement:

I'm pleased to announce that the Department of Homeland Security has transferred the Socorro warehouses to the General Services Administration (GSA). This means the warehouses will be put up for sale and they will no longer be used by the federal government for detention purposes.

The community of Socorro has been working on an economic development vision and plan to grow their economy while embracing their rich history. The community has also faced challenges with water, wastewater, and general infrastructure, making the purchase of these facilities for detention a terrible idea to begin with, threatening their ability to execute on their future plans and growth.

My team and I have worked diligently to elevate these issues within DHS and ICE and ensure that the voices of our community were heard. My priority is to work with Socorro leadership to support our shared constituents and their needs. This news will help all of us focus on that path ahead instead of the greater challenges a massive detention facility would bring. I will continue to productively advocate for our community and what is in the best interests of all of us.

A spokesperson with DHS released the following statement confirming that it will continue to use existing spaces for detention:

From day one, DHS has remained singularly focused on removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from the United States and is always evaluating the best methods to do so. These heinous criminals, once arrested, should be removed at lightning speed, not housed on American soil at the taxpayer’s expense. DHS is moving swiftly to utilize EXISTING detention space with our state and county partners.

RELATED: Escobar questions DHS on Socorro detention plans, Camp East Montana and Mt. Cristo Rey

Critics had scrutinized plans for these warehouses for months, citing infrastructure issues.

Escobar and other local leaders had met with Acting ICE Director David Venturella to address concerns about the Socorro detention facility.

During that visit, Escobar said ICE told local officials the project will no longer house 8,500 people as originally planned, but will be a privately run detention operation with a shift toward a broader, campus-style use.

Despite the revised plan, Escobar continued to raise concerns, saying it would "take years to prepare those facilities" and "multiple millions of dollars on top of the overpayment to purchase those warehouses.”

“Whoever preceded you that chose those three warehouses chose the worst possible location,” Escobar said, adding that Socorro is a small municipality that struggles with water, wastewater, and emergency services capacity.

In response, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the agency was reassessing the properties, acknowledging broader challenges with detention capacity, and will be reexamining its process.

“We are evaluating all 11 that were purchased. There’s some that just, quite frankly, probably won’t work,” Mullin said. “I believe there’s at least one in that area that probably just won’t work.”

Socorro Mayor Rudy Cruz Jr. provided the following statement:

Today’s announcement is welcome news for the City of Socorro and our residents. From the beginning, we raised serious concerns about the proposed detention facility’s impact on our water and wastewater systems, emergency services, roads, public safety, and future economic development.

I sincerely thank Congresswoman Veronica Escobar for listening to our community, bringing our concerns directly to federal officials, and working diligently to ensure Socorro’s voice was heard. I also thank our residents, City Council, local service providers, and community partners who stood together and advocated for transparency and responsible decision-making.

With the properties now expected to be offered for sale, we look forward to opportunities that align with Socorro’s economic development vision, respect our infrastructure limitations, and provide meaningful benefits to our community.

RELATED: Escobar: ICE plan for Socorro warehouses now includes training campus and some detention