Wednesday and Thursday, 2026-09-23 and 2026-09-24 · · run 20260925T0349Z
ICE Wasted Millions on Failed Detention Expansion
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wasted millions of dollars on detention expansion initiatives without proper planning, the Government Accountability Office reported on September 24, 2026.
From January 2025 to July 2026, ICE invested billions in six new detention initiatives without required analysis or strategic planning.
ICE purchased 11 warehouses for about $1.07 billion to convert into detention facilities, but by June 2026 was working to sell seven of them.
The agency reported spending over $20 million on nonrecoverable costs for the warehouses it now intends to sell.
ICE did not develop a comprehensive strategic plan to guide its expansion, including consistent goals for detention bed capacity or characteristics.
The agency also did not assess the risks and benefits of high-cost facilities compared to less expensive options in its traditional portfolio.
A strategic plan with clear goals, activities, and resource needs is a critical part of effective program management, GAO found.
Such planning could help ICE manage multibillion-dollar expansion efforts, reduce waste, and use taxpayer dollars more efficiently.
Sources
- Immigration Detention: Urgent Planning Needed to Avoid Further Waste of Taxpayer Dollars Government Accountability Office
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