County Fight Contested

Orange County FL — Orlando fights proposed ~1,500-bed ICE warehouse (Beachline Logistics Center)

Orange, FL FIPS 12095

Current status: Orange County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution opposing warehouse-to-detention conversion (Mar 10, 2026); Orlando mayor and city commissioners voiced opposition (Apr 7, 2026) but took no formal action. Both governments acknowledge the Supremacy Clause limits their power to block a federal purchase. Project remained exploratory as of spring 2026.

The Fight

After federal officials toured the Beachline Logistics Center warehouse at 8660 Transport Drive in East Orlando on January 17, 2026 — eyeing it for a ~1,500-bed ICE detention/processing center — Orange County and City of Orlando leaders mobilized in opposition. On March 10, 2026, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution opposing the conversion of any industrial warehouse in the county into a federal immigrant detention center. On April 7, 2026, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and city commissioners voiced opposition but took no formal action, with attorneys for both the county and city confirming that the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause prevents local governments from blocking a federal acquisition.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) called the plan “an awful, terrible idea.” County Commissioner Nicole Wilson drafted language for a temporary ban on new detention facilities. ICE characterized the January tour as “exploratory,” and as of spring 2026 no purchase had been confirmed.

Key Details

Site: Beachline Logistics Center, ~439,945 sq ft, 8660 Transport Drive, East Orlando (Orange County), FIPS 12095, near Lake Nona; owned by Atlanta-based TPA Group.
Proposed capacity: ~1,500-bed “processing center,” average ~1-week stays.
Opposition: Orange County Commissioners (unanimous resolution); Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and city commissioners; Commissioners Tom Keen and Roger Chapin; County Commissioner Nicole Wilson; State Rep. Anna Eskamani; State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith; Hope CommUnity Center.
Limitation: Local resolutions are non-binding; Supremacy Clause shields a federal purchase from local zoning/permitting.
Outcome: Contested; exploratory, no confirmed purchase as of spring 2026.

Sources

This research is published at The RAMM — investigative reporting on the detention pipeline.

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