Crypto News: ICE begins its warehouse-buying spree

The Trump administration has begun buying warehouses in small towns and cities as part of its $45 billion push to rapidly expand immigration detention space. It recently purchased two warehouses — one in Hagerstown, Maryland, and another in Surprise, Arizona — for a total of $172 million. A third in El Paso, Texas, could be among the largest jails of any kind in the US, with 8,500 beds.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to buy and convert nearly two dozen warehouses, many in Republican-leaning areas. But that hasn't stopped protest from local residents, who've shown up at community meetings and at potential sites to pressure town officials and property owners to block ICE's plans. While local governments are limited in what they can do to stop federal actions, Sophie Alexander and Fola Akinnibi report that they do have some tools at their disposal. Today on CityLab: ICE Begins Buying 'Mega' Warehouse Detention Centers Across US

— Linda Poon

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What we're reading

ICE isn't just tracking your phone. The surveillance technology goes further than that (Sahan Journal)
Minneapolis' hotel workers are on edge (Notus)
America's wildfire risk data quietly puts millions of homes in danger (Vox)
EVs are already making your air cleaner (Grist)
Towns once run by Warren Jeffs' polygamous sect emerge from court supervision transformed (Associated Press)