Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officials has released an estimate that they need 15,000 beds to help them house immigrant families at the border.
ICE officials put out the notice Friday to help with planning for potential new facilities to house the families while their immigration status is being considered. The new facilities are being built in response to the separation of immigrant children from their parents on the southwest boarder amid public outcry.
Officials said the agency currently has about 3,300 beds for immigrant parents and their children in family detention facilities.
Pentagon officials say they plan to house up to 20,000 unaccompanied children on military bases.
