ICE plans 24/7 Nashville call center to help police locate unaccompanied migrant children, amid rapid expansion of state–federal enforcement partnerships
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is moving to establish a round‑the‑clock call center in Nashville, Tennessee, capable of handling 6,000–7,000 calls per day to assist state and local law enforcement in locating unaccompanied migrant children—an operational shift that dovetails with new Texas requirements that many sheriffs seek 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE and with a major federal funding surge for immigration enforcement enacted this summer. [1]
The plan, disclosed in a federal contracting notice released this week, sets a target opening by late March 2026 and full operations by June. It has quickly drawn scrutiny from immigrant‑rights advocates and data‑privacy experts, who warn of potential conflicts with child‑welfare law and duplication of existing federal functions. ICE has not publicly explained why Nashville was chosen, though the city is home to CoreCivic, one of ICE’s largest detention contractors. [2]
What ICE is proposing
- Facility: A 24/7 “national call center” in the Nashville area to field and route law‑enforcement inquiries about the whereabouts of unaccompanied migrant children. [3]
- Capacity and timing: 6,000–7,000 calls per day; immediate stand‑up with initial operations by March 2026 and full capacity by June 2026. [4]
- Parallel procurements: ICE is also seeking transport contractors to move detainees in Texas as a new state law compelling broader sheriff–ICE partnerships takes effect in 2026. [5]
How this fits into the broader enforcement landscape
State–federal alignment: Texas SB 8
In June, Texas enacted SB 8, requiring sheriffs in counties with populations of 100,000 or more to request and, if offered, enter 287(g) agreements (or similar programs) with ICE; the law takes effect January 1, 2026. The measure also creates a grant program to offset some local costs. [7]
State leaders say the mandate will strengthen public safety and coordination. Critics, including some large‑county sheriffs, warn of unfunded mandates and erosion of community trust; local reporting estimates implementation could cost major counties more than $1 million annually. [8]
Rapid growth of 287(g) agreements
ICE’s own program page says that as of October 1, 2025, it had signed 1,036 active 287(g) memoranda of agreement across 40 states, reflecting a dramatic expansion since January. The agency highlights multiple models (jail‑based, warrant service, and the revived task force model) under which local officers receive limited immigration authority with ICE oversight. [9]
New federal dollars powering capacity
Congress’ July 4 reconciliation package—marketed by the White House as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—delivered an unprecedented DHS funding infusion. A Congressional Research Service brief details more than $190 billion for DHS components, including tens of billions for border infrastructure and enforcement operations that the administration says will expand detention, transport, and staffing. [10]
Existing ICE 24/7 hub
ICE already operates the Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) in Williston, Vermont, which processes more than 1.5 million law‑enforcement queries annually. The Nashville center would be distinct in focus—targeting unaccompanied children cases. [11]
Why Nashville?
ICE has not given a public rationale. Media note Nashville is home to CoreCivic’s headquarters, a major ICE contractor, intensifying watchdog scrutiny of vendor influence over program design. [12]
Projected caseload
As of July, about 2,000 unaccompanied minors were in federal custody—a figure that fluctuates seasonally. The call center’s 6,000–7,000 daily call design suggests it would handle far more than simple status checks. [13]
Legal and policy fault lines
TVPRA and custody roles
Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), federal agencies that apprehend or discover unaccompanied children must notify Health and Human Services within 48 hours and, except in rare cases, transfer custody to HHS within 72 hours. ICE’s envisioned role—helping police locate minors—intersects with this framework and raises questions about how child‑welfare screening, placement, and due‑process protections will be safeguarded. [14]
ORR vs. ICE: overlapping “call centers”
HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement already runs a National Call Center for families and sponsors seeking to locate children in ORR care. ICE’s proposed center would be law‑enforcement‑facing and operationally distinct, but critics warn the design risks mission creep and confusion over custody responsibilities. [15]
| Function | ORR National Call Center (HHS) | Proposed ICE Nashville Center |
|---|---|---|
| Primary users | Families/sponsors seeking child status | State/local law enforcement seeking to locate unaccompanied children |
| Legal mandate | TVPRA care/custody; child welfare placement | Immigration enforcement coordination with police |
| Operating status | Established hotline | Planned stand‑up by Mar–Jun 2026 |
Sources: ORR policy guide; AP contracting notice coverage. [16]
Supporters’ and critics’ arguments
Proponents say…
- Centralized coordination will help locate minors faster, support trafficking prevention, and integrate data from rapidly expanding 287(g) partners. [17]
- New federal funding ensures staffing, transport, and detention capacity to execute lawful orders while supporting states shouldering border pressures. [18]
Opponents warn…
- The center could blur lines between child‑welfare and enforcement, chilling families’ cooperation and risking TVPRA non‑compliance. [19]
- Locating minors primarily through police channels may escalate deportations of children with pending cases, undermine due process, and duplicate the existing LESC and ORR systems. [20]
“ICE said it has an ‘immediate need’ to establish an around‑the‑clock call center in Nashville … capable of handling 6,000 to 7,000 daily calls to help law enforcement with ‘locating unaccompanied alien children.’” — Associated Press contracting‑notice summary (Nov. 7, 2025). [21]
Procurement, vendors, and oversight questions
The government has not publicly posted a full solicitation, but the contracting notice describes technology to “maximize call efficiency” and a parallel request for mass detainee transport services in Texas. Transparency advocates want the Department of Homeland Security to specify data‑sharing rules, retention periods, and audit mechanisms, especially if private contractors manage sensitive records tied to minors. [22]
Separately, CoreCivic told investors it anticipates expanded ICE business at multiple facilities this year—a reminder that the vendor landscape around detention and transport is growing alongside federal appropriations. [23]
What this means for families, police, and courts
For families/sponsors
Expect more law‑enforcement‑initiated location efforts. Families should keep documentation current and consult counsel; ORR’s hotline remains the lawful channel for status checks when a child is in HHS care. [24]
For local sheriffs and police
Texas agencies in larger counties will be required to pursue 287(g) agreements starting Jan. 1, 2026; the Nashville center could become a central point for referrals and information exchange tied to those agreements. Training and clear MOAs will be critical to avoid civil‑rights violations. [25]
For courts and compliance
Litigation is likely to test whether the program comports with TVPRA transfer timelines and child‑welfare standards, and how it interacts with Flores‑related protections now partially superseded by HHS rulemaking. [26]
Bottom line
The proposed Nashville call center would mark a notable shift in how ICE organizes law‑enforcement inquiries about unaccompanied children—centralizing that work in a high‑volume facility, synchronized with a large expansion of local 287(g) partnerships and backed by fresh federal dollars. Whether it improves child safety and legal compliance—or primarily accelerates removals and data collection—will depend on the final operating rules, contractor controls, and rigorous oversight by Congress and the courts. 🗳️⚖️
References
- Associated Press wire reporting on ICE contracting notice and timeline. [27]
- Reuters background on scope (24/7 operations; CoreCivic location; expanded 287(g)). [28]
- ICE 287(g) program page (participating agencies counts and models). [29]
- ICE Law Enforcement Support Center overview (existing 24/7 operations). [30]
- ORR National Call Center policy guide (HHS hotline purpose). [31]
- Texas SB 8 statutory text and effective date (Jan. 1, 2026). [32]
- Texas Lt. Gov. statement and Texas Tribune coverage on SB 8. [33]
- Congressional Research Service summary of DHS funding in July 4 reconciliation law; White House framing. [34]
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