ICE Expands Footprint with Coworking Space Initiative Across United States
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is actively exploring the rental of coworking spaces in offices across nearly 100 cities throughout 42 states and Puerto Rico, according to federal procurement documents reviewed by The Independent. The initiative would see ICE personnel deployed to approved coworking locations for a period of one year, significantly expanding the agency's physical presence nationwide.
Federal Procurement Details Reveal Extensive Plans
A request for information issued on March 20 by the Department of Homeland Security, ICE's parent entity, seeks details on obtaining flexible workspace including private offices and workstations for assigned ICE personnel. The document specifies that these coworking sites must accommodate more than 300 ICE employees across 99 separate locations, from major metropolitan areas like New York City and Seattle to smaller communities such as Casper, Wyoming and Hot Springs, South Dakota.
The procurement requirements mandate that spaces provide Wi-Fi access and printing privileges, with leases running for 12 months beginning when contracts are awarded by ICE's Washington Office of Mission Support. This represents a notable shift from previous ICE tenders, including an October 2025 request that specifically sought fully-finished office space while explicitly rejecting collocation with entities whose operations might present security or reputational conflicts with law enforcement functions.
Community Concerns and Local Opposition
As ICE's physical footprint has expanded under the Trump administration, local communities have increasingly voiced opposition to the agency's presence. A recent Wired investigation revealed that ICE facilities are often located near elementary schools, doctors' offices, houses of worship, and other sensitive locations, describing what the outlet termed a secret campaign to place street-level agents and attorneys in office spaces across the country without advance warning.
Last month, Lewis University in suburban Chicago moved in-person classes online after administrators became aware of an ICE presence in the same building where business and nursing instruction occurs. University Provost Christopher Sindt told ABC7 he first learned about ICE's move through social media, noting numerous SUV vehicles parked on campus that created what he described as a potentially volatile environment for students.
In Berwyn, Pennsylvania, state Representative Melissa Shusterman issued a statement after discovering ICE had rented space in an office park approximately one mile from an elementary school. She lamented having limited legislative options to bring ICE under control but vowed not to stand by idly as communities are put in danger.
Political Pushback and Community Response
Representative Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat and West Point graduate, gathered 20,000 signatures in opposition to ICE operating in New Windsor, New York, where the agency had been leasing office space for months without local officials' knowledge. Ryan stated that the administration continues to escalate directly against the will of Hudson Valley residents, who strongly reject ICE's attempts to move into their community.
Similarly, officials in New Windsor expressed surprise upon learning ICE had been operating from a building that also houses a branch of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. The growing opposition reflects broader concerns about ICE's expanding operations and their impact on local communities.
Nationwide Locations and Procurement Timeline
The coworking spaces ICE seeks span the entire country, with locations including major cities like Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco, alongside numerous smaller communities. According to the latest ICE procurement data, responses from interested vendors offering coworking spaces are due by March 31.
The extensive list of potential locations demonstrates ICE's ambitious expansion plans, which come as federal immigration enforcement budgets now exceed those of many nations' militaries. The coworking space initiative represents a significant evolution in how ICE establishes its presence across the United States, moving toward more flexible and potentially less conspicuous office arrangements than traditional government facilities.
