iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

James Grossmann, the owner of Rudiarius, is listed in the so-called Infrastructure Analysis for the Social Circle, Georgia, warehouse. Rudiarius also played a role in the NEPA assessments for several other warehouse projects.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My phone’s pinned messages: family, friends, and the SAM.gov authentication code I’ll need in 30 seconds.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 01/09/2026

As a volunteer investigative team, we never ask for money. But we back people doing the work on the ground. We report on the detention and enforcement system. Asylee Women Enterprise supports the PEOPLE living under it. They need a permanent home in Baltimore. If you can give, please do.

givebutter.com

A Forever Home for Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE)

We’re asking people who believe in our mission to help us reach our goal and build a permanent home for AWE and the communities we serve.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 01/09/2026

There has been, rightfully, a lot of angst about ICE buying robot dogs and shock gloves. There is not NEARLY enough outrage about the massive detention apparatus they are building out, or the inexperienced contractors "checking in" on migrant children, or collecting fines in foreign countries, etc.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 22/07/2026

Baltimore Magazine's editors (unexpectedly) named Project Salt Box "Best Watchdog." Thank you to the readers, partners, and sources who make our work possible.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 19/05/2026

There’s a massive immigration operation in Memphis right now, but you may not have heard about it. Why? Community members face retaliation for trying to spread the word out, a lawsuit alleges.

motherjones.com

Memphis is “under full-blown occupation” by ICE. Here’s why you may not know that.

Community members face retaliation for trying to spread the word out, a lawsuit alleges.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

GardaWorld is also continuing their recruitment of security guards for the site with the disclaimer, “Please be advised that this is a future-dated opening, and selected candidates will be placed in a pipeline for an anticipated mobilization later this year."

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 07/05/2026

Here 8 of the 10 “turnkey” facilities ICE is looking to purchase outright from private prison firms according to multiple sources. These would be much harder to fight than the warehouses, and would be “immune” from state or county level legislation as federal enclaves.

Alt text: Map of the United States titled “Proposed Turnkey Detention Centers,” showing yellow dots marking the locations of proposed ICE detention center acquisitions. Dots appear in Washington state; three in California; one in Colorado; one in Texas; and three clustered in Louisiana. The map indicates a concentration of proposed sites in the West and Gulf Coast regions.

Screenshot of a bulleted list naming ICE detention facilities identified as potential acquisition targets. Visible entries include: Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington; California City Detention Center in California City, California; Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego; Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, California; Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas; Central Louisiana Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana; Aurora ICE Processing Center in Aurora, Colorado; and Winn Processing Center in Winnfield, Louisiana.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 28/04/2026

ICE's detention capability in four slides. 1. All existing immigration detention centers in operation today 2. Plus all purchased warehouses (minus paused/halted ones) 3. Plus all facilities proposed to be reopened or acquired 4. Plus all hold rooms and check-in sites used for detainee 'staging'

A map of the US containing numerous white circles of various sizes, indicating the location and capacity of existing ICE detention centers.

A map of the US containing numerous white and red circles of various sizes, indicating the location and capacity of existing ICE detention centers and warehouses purchased for the purpose of immigrant detention.

A map of the US containing numerous white, red, purple, and yellow circles of various sizes, indicating the location and capacity of existing ICE detention centers, warehouses purchased for the purpose of immigrant detention, and planned sites for contract or acquisition.

A map of the US containing numerous white, red, purple, yellow, and pink circles of various sizes, indicating the location and capacity of existing ICE detention centers, warehouses purchased for the purpose of immigrant detention, planned sites for contract or acquisition, and hold rooms and sub offices used for detainee staging.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Always fun to discover that DHS can’t even redact documents correctly.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

We just added a new tab to the @projectsaltbox tracker focused on litigation. We’re following active cases in MD, MI, NJ, and TX tracking claims, relief sought, and each procedural move. This is a living doc, and we’ll keep updating as new filings land: datastudio.google.com/reporting/b0...

datastudio.google.com

ICE Warehouse Tracker

Looker Studio turns your data into informative dashboards and reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Update on this one — ICE officially added this to their forecast a couple days ago. They plan to lease workstations for 300+ personnel by the end of May, spending up to $5M on coworking space.

open.substack.com

ICE Seeking Office Space in Over 40 States

An RFI released today details ICE's plans to rent co-working space for over 300 personnel nationwide

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 26/03/2026

New at tracker.projectsaltbox.com We've added a sales analysis tab that breaks down the data behind ICE's purchase of 11 warehouses (so far) — what each site cost, where the money went, and what the operating bill looks like going forward. Click the "Sales Analysis" link at the top of the page.

A bar chart titled "Recent Market Valuations vs. 2026 ICE Acquisition Prices" compares the previous value of 11 properties to their ICE purchase prices in USD. White bars represent previous values, and gold bars represent ICE purchase prices. In every case, the ICE price is significantly higher. For example, a property in Flowery Branch, GA, jumped from $400K to $68M, and Socorro, TX, rose from $11.07M to $123M. The highest acquisition is Salt Lake City, UT, at $145.44M, up from $97.37M.

A table titled "Two Ways to Measure What the Government Paid" lists 11 locations with their price per square foot and price per bed. Roxbury, NJ, has the highest costs at $275.08 per sq ft and $86,200 per bed. Other high costs include Hamburg, PA ($168.65/sq ft) and Romulus, MI ($69,400 per bed). Prices per square foot range down to $92.28 in Tremont, PA, while prices per bed vary significantly, with the lowest being $14,470.59 in Socorro, TX. Data is highlighted in shades of red.

A treemap chart titled "Estimated Profits by Seller" displays various entities as rectangular blocks of differing sizes and shades of green. The largest blocks, indicating the highest estimated profits, belong to El Paso Logistics II LLC and PNK S1 LLC on the left. Medium-sized blocks in the center include Dalfen Industrial, CRP/AI Oakwood Owner LLC, and BIGTRPA 001 LLC. Smaller blocks on the right represent the Rockefeller Group, RREEF CPIF LLC, PCCP, Oakmont Industrial Group, and FRIND-Hopewell LLC.

A line graph titled "Purchases over time by Facility State," showing highly localized spikes in purchases across 8 states from Jan 16 to Mar 6, 2026. Each state exhibits short-duration activity: Texas peaks with 1 purchase in mid-Jan and again in early Feb. Pennsylvania shows the highest volume with 2 purchases in early Feb. Other peaks (each showing 1 purchase) occur sequentially: Georgia in mid-Feb and late-Feb, Michigan in mid-Feb, New Jersey in late-Feb, and Utah in early March.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 12/03/2026

As of this afternoon, ICE has purchased 11 warehouses for conversion into detention camps. 11 sales have been canceled. ICE has spent $1.04 billion on warehouse acquisitions. It will cost the government an estimated $7.57 billion to operate all 11 warehouses per year.

Interactive map titled "ICE Facilities of Interest" showing bubble indicators across the United States. Bubbles are sized by number of beds (500 to 15,000) and color-coded by status: Green (Sale Canceled), Yellow (Prospective Site), Red (Bought by ICE), and Orange (Conversion in Progress). Concentrations of large red and orange bubbles appear in Utah, Texas, and along the Northeast corridor, while yellow prospective sites are clustered in the South and Midwest.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 11/03/2026

Maryland banned 287(g). Within days, county sheriffs were on camera explaining how they'd keep working with ICE anyway. That's why we support HB 1575 and SB 791 — the Community Trust Act. Here's our open letter to the General Assembly urging them to pass these critical bills.

open.substack.com

An Open Letter from Project Salt Box in Support of HB 1575 and SB 791

The 287(g) ban closed one door, but the pipeline into ICE custody is still open.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 11/03/2026

Haven't checked the 287(g) page in a while, but @bremg.bsky.social found that this language was quietly added — a quick check of Internet Archive shows that this popped up on/about Sunday, Feb. 15. Our assessment: ICE is looking to find workarounds to 287(g) bans.

This image features a section of an informational document or webpage titled What’s in It for Your Law Enforcement Agency? The text describes the advantages of the 287(g) Program for state and local law enforcement.

The main body of the text explains that the program provides access to ICE resources and training, with ICE covering the training costs. It notes that the primary goal is helping agencies keep communities safe from "potentially dangerous criminal aliens."

A single bullet point below the main paragraph highlights the Department of Justice’s State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). It explains that SCAAP provides federal funding to states and municipalities to help cover costs associated with the incarceration of certain individuals. The final sentence, in bold, emphasizes that this is entirely separate from the 287(g) program.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Another good way to keep tabs on these warehouses - check local job postings.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 27/02/2026

Maryland lawmakers moved Thursday to draw new limits around immigration detention in the state, passing emergency measures on zoning, safety standards and civil rights accountability — all in response to a $102 million federal warehouse purchase made with little public notice.

projectsaltbox.substack.com

Maryland House Passes Trio of Immigration Bills in Response to Federal Detention Push

Three emergency measures would set new limits on immigration detention in Maryland — and give residents the right to sue federal officers in state court.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

🚨Baltimore - recent developments are pointing to a potential ICE surge

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 23/02/2026

BREAKING Maryland AG Brown files lawsuit to block Hagerstown ICE warehouse. “The lawsuit alleges that DHS and ICE violated NEPA by purchasing the property and moving forward with construction plans without conducting any of these required steps.”

oag.maryland.gov

Attorney General Brown Files Lawsuit to Stop Construction of Unlawful ICE Detention Facility in Washington County - News - Office of the Attorney General of Maryland

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 20/02/2026

Maintenance is done! New on the ICE Warehouse Tracker: ➡️ Price Delta Scorecard: % markup from last sale/appraisal to ICE purchase price ➡️ Site Capacity Table: New operational & bed-count tables ➡️ Finance Table: Stats for sales history, ops costs, & tax loss 🔗 tinyurl.com/ICEWarehouse...

A table showing logistics capacity of an ICE detention warehouse.

Table demonstrating financial background of ICE detention warehouses.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Another development from last night’s meeting - DHS stated they are transitioning the detention system from private operations to gov owned and reducing number of facilities from 300 to 34. We are trying to confirm this as it would be a massive change from current operations.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Our team at @projectsaltbox.bsky.social analyzed DHS docs recently sent to Merrimack,NH outlining ICE’s detention reengineering initiative. Shockingly, USCIS seems to be involved in detention planning, and less shockingly, former Geo Group exec is too.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

No, and based on our conversations with town officials in several of these locations, they are looking into invoking zoning ordinances/ infrastructure capacity limits. That said, due to the Supremacy Clause, Fed. agencies are generally immune from local zoning ordinances and building regulations.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 10/02/2026

The team here at PSB have been so moved to hear from you tonight. We hope that our tools help you bring about change. We all have one life to live, and THIS moment to rise to. Learn what’s being bought, apply public pressure to companies and public officials, and find community in resistance.

Mike from Project Salt Box in the MS NOW green room taking a photo of a TV screen displaying the PSB warehouse tracker he helped build the week before.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 09/02/2026

A kind reader made this set of instructions on how Marylanders can sign up and provide testimony on HB 630! Comprehensive, easy to follow — thanks, Ira! To my fellow crabfolk, let us know when you’ve signed up and submitted testimony on Feb 16! If you’re wondering what you can be doing, this is it

docs.google.com

Submit Written Testimony to Support House Bill 630

Submit Written Testimony to Support House Bill 630! (if you’re a Maryland resident) The House Bill is part of the Judiciary Committee, you can see the bill tracker here: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/m...

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 08/02/2026

Today in the Salt Box... 📧A Washington County, Md. resident shares her grief over the looming ICE detention warehouse 🪧 MD residents have a brief — but impactful — opportunity to make their voices heard 📬 We want to hear from you! Send us your stories at projectsaltbox@proton.me

projectsaltbox.substack.com

Community Voices: 'I Don't Feel Protected. I Feel Exposed.'

A Washington County resident speaks out on the proposed Williamsport detention facility

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

The implications of this are huge. Billions of dollars are being wasted on a detention expansion project that senior officials know will fail.

open.substack.com

"Doomed to Failure”

Veteran officials know the plan is unworkable. Political leadership doesn't care. And the budget has soared past $55 billion.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Expect this to come out by March with an award by April. Quite an expedited timeline by government procurement standards.

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Huge thanks to the Hagerstown resident who shared their letter of objection with @projectsaltbox.bsky.social The filing also opens the door for other residents to submit similar objections. More to come!

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Data is powerful - explore our visual tracker of the warehouses ICE is targeting ⬇️

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 02/02/2026

Join PSB at @redemmas.org to talk about how we are using public records — from federal procurement databases and land deeds to local plumbing and HVAC permits — to track Homeland Security’s unprecedented growth under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Sat, Feb. 28, 7:00 PM 3128 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore

withfriends.co

2/28 - Project Salt Box: Open Data as Community Defense by Red Emma's

Get tickets and support Red Emma's by becoming a member

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Michael Wriston @michaelwriston.com · 31/01/2026

Hey that’s us!

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Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 30/01/2026

PSB has been spotted in reporting from @thebaltimorebanner.com, @baltimorebeat.bsky.social, WYPR, and @washingtonpost.com this week! Lots of people asking how you can help. Well, here are some ways! 1. Donate to local orgs 2. Use our data for good! 3. Send us tips or things you want to know!

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Em Chapin (Knepp) @em-knepp.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Excellent work by @mwriston.bsky.social on the developing story re: the Hagerstown warehouse purchased by ICE

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 23/01/2026

Wicomico becomes the ninth Maryland county to sign a 287(g) agreement to allow its officers to support ICE. Plus: ICE is looking for a company to manage its 287(g) outreach program.

open.substack.com

Another MD county enacts 287(g) agreement while ICE continues its investment in the program

Wicomico County announces 287(g) immigration enforcement agreement. Plus: ICE issues RFI for 287(g) program implementation and outreach

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 23/01/2026

What's new in version 1.3? All new ways to track DHS spending in your city and beyond: 📊 Now includes solicitations and future forecasts 💲 More detailed spending info 🔗 TinyURL address for easier sharing 🌐 Public for anyone, even without a Google Account tinyurl.com/DHScontracts...

A map showing circles representing DHS contracts in Maryland and Washington, DC.

A table listing different DHS contracts and their associated locations and dollar amounts.

A table containing a description for an ICE forecast for analysis tools.

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Reposted by Em Chapin (Knepp)

Project Salt Box @projectsaltbox.com · 21/01/2026

Good morning, Baltimore (and beyond)! Proud to roll out our data exploration tool. This interactive visualizer lets you see how—and where—DHS is spending its $190B+ budget.

substack.com

Introducing the DHS Contract Visualizer

A new tool to explore how DHS is spending its budget under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

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