Ted Hesson and Mica Roseberg

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, (ICE, NYSE:)), plans to close an Alabama troubled detention facility and significantly reduce the number of beds at three other facilities. This is based on concerns over conditions according to an internal document from the government that Reuters reviewed.

The document states that ICE has decided to end the Etowah county Detention Center’s use in Gadsden. This is due to “long-standing concerns about the facility, based on the number, severity and persistence of defects discovered during inspections.”

While there are not many inmates currently at the facility, they have a high average stay. A draft memo indicated that both the age and scarcity of space outside the jail were concerning.

In the memo, it stated that Glades County Detention Center would be closed in Florida if the “persistent or ongoing concerns” regarding medical care were present.

Since years, immigrants advocates have complained about problems in ICE centers. President Joe Biden is a Democrat. ICE currently holds nearly 22,000 immigrants in facilities all across the nation.

Biden has witnessed a significant drop in ICE-related arrests and deportations, compared with his predecessor Republican President Donald Trump. To prioritize arresting those who have committed serious crimes, the agency has dropped enforcement of immigrants without criminal records.

According to U.S. officials, an announcement regarding detention change was likely Friday. ICE has not yet responded to a request of comment.

The document stated that ICE was also going to reduce the guaranteed minimum number of beds in the Alamance County Detention Facility, North Carolina, and at the Winn Correctional Center, Louisiana. This is partly due to a smaller number detainees.

Republicans will be critical of the measures, saying that Biden encourages illegal immigration. This is based on the record number of migrants arrested at the U.S. – Mexico border. These numbers are predicted to increase further in the coming year. The majority of migrants who were arrested at the border have been expelled immediately under the current policy to reduce the spread COVID-19 detention environments.