The U.S. government has rapidly expanded office space for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), signing dozens of leases across the country in recent months as the agency scales operations, according to BisNow.Â
The deals were arranged by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which handles federal real estate. Between September and January alone, the agency signed 17 leases worth about $9.3 million, according to federal records. By early 2026, reports indicate the total number of new leases may have reached around 150 locations.
The office expansion is separate from a federal initiative to acquire industrial properties for immigration detention facilities.
Leasing Process Accelerated
The GSA typically advertises space needs publicly and awards leases based largely on price. In this case, the agency moved more quickly and did not publicly list some lease awards.
Former GSA Public Buildings Service head Dan Mathews said the agency has broad authority to accelerate leasing when necessary.
Some leases were signed above local market averages, while others were in line with or below typical rates, based on market data from brokerages including CBRE.
Brokers involved in the deals said proposals offering furnished or move-in-ready space often had an advantage because ICE needed offices quickly.
Border Emergency Order Cited
At a congressional hearing, GSA Administrator Ed Forst said the agency was instructed not to publish certain lease awards after an executive order declaring a national emergency at the southern border was issued by Donald Trump in January 2025.
The order allowed some procurement processes to be handled differently.
Offices Used for Legal and Administrative Staff
Most of the leased spaces are used for administrative staff, attorneys, and paralegals, including personnel connected to the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration legal operations.
