The Trump administration is expanding its immigration enforcement infrastructure with the construction of new “soft-sided holding facilities” designed to detain individuals entering the U.S. illegally. These facilities, which resemble large tents with fencing and secure beds, mirror the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” facility in Florida.

A significant step in this expansion came in July when the administration awarded a $1.2 billion contract to a Virginia-based firm to construct the nation’s largest detention center. This massive facility, located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, will have the capacity to hold up to 5,000 undocumented immigrants. It is part of a broader effort to crack down on immigration violations and border crossings.

As the administration implemented these plans, congressional oversight intensified. Last fall, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan issued a formal request to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, instructing them to preserve all records related to the ongoing border crisis.

Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, expressed concern that the Biden administration officials might destroy or erase key documentation before leaving office in January, just ahead of President Trump’s return to the White House. The letter served as a preemptive warning and an official request to maintain transparency and accountability.

The move by Jordan was reported by Just The News and reflects the broader efforts by congressional Republicans to investigate what they see as mismanagement or negligence at the border under the prior administration. The focus is on ensuring no data or communications are lost during the transition of power.

These developments come amid renewed scrutiny of U.S. immigration policy, with the Trump administration seeking to project a strong stance on border enforcement while also laying the groundwork for potential legal or congressional action related to past decisions and policies.