ICE confirms purchase of Lebanon, Tennessee facility for detention center, surprising local and state officials

Federal agency acknowledges new Middle Tennessee detention site, but key details remain undisclosed

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has confirmed it purchased a facility in Lebanon, Tennessee, with plans to use it to house immigration detainees. The announcement surfaced through agency communications to local media and immediately raised questions among Wilson County and state leaders, several of whom said they had not been notified of any pending acquisition or planned detention operations.

ICE has not released the address, purchase price, capacity, construction timeline, or the expected start date for detention operations. The agency has said the location will undergo community impact studies and due diligence intended to assess potential strain on utilities and infrastructure before further steps are taken.

Economic projections circulated by ICE, but methodology has not been made public

In statements attributed to an ICE spokesperson, the agency has projected significant regional economic effects tied to the Lebanon site, including more than 7,000 jobs, roughly $829.5 million in gross domestic product impact, and about $167.8 million in tax revenue. Local officials have said they are seeking documentation explaining how these figures were calculated and what assumptions were used.

At the county level, officials have also pointed to the lack of publicly available transaction details. The Wilson County Assessor of Property’s office has been cited in reporting as having no record of a final purchase at the time questions were raised by elected leaders, underscoring uncertainty about the facility’s identity and the status of related filings.

How the Lebanon facility fits into Tennessee’s expanding detention footprint

If the Lebanon site moves forward, it would represent Tennessee’s second immigration detention facility operating in the state since the reopening of the West Tennessee Detention Facility in Mason. That facility, run by CoreCivic under an intergovernmental services agreement, was reactivated in 2025 after being idle since 2021, and the company has publicly described a ramp-up schedule extending into early 2026.

ICE detention statistics published for Mason have shown a population that includes large numbers of people classified as non-criminal detainees, alongside a smaller share classified as criminal detainees. The Lebanon site’s planned scale and detainee profile have not been disclosed.

Outstanding questions for residents and local government

Until ICE identifies the site and releases baseline operational information, local government planning remains constrained. Public safety staffing, emergency medical readiness, transportation impacts, water and wastewater capacity, and contracting arrangements are among the issues typically evaluated when large secure facilities are introduced or repurposed.

For now, officials in Wilson County and at the state level say they are seeking direct briefings and documentation from ICE to clarify what has been purchased in Lebanon, what changes are planned for the property, and what oversight mechanisms will apply once detention operations begin.

• Facility location, capacity, and opening date have not been publicly released.
• ICE has stated community impact studies and due diligence will be conducted.
• Local and state officials have requested more information and supporting documentation for projected economic impacts.

ICE has described the planned site as a structured detention facility intended to meet the agency’s standard detention requirements, while local officials continue to press for details needed for public review and planning.