ICE has wasted tens of millions to carry out Trump’s mass detention agenda – report
Summary
A government report says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has wasted tens of millions of dollars on expensive detention projects since President Trump took office in 2025. The report highlights poor planning and mismanagement of funds meant to expand detention capacity, leading to unused facilities and high costs.Key Facts
- ICE received $45 billion last year to expand detention centers under President Trump’s administration.
- The detainee population grew from 39,000 in January 2025 to 67,000 by July 2027.
- Nearly $3 million was spent on tents at Guantánamo Bay that were never used.
- ICE bought warehouses for detention that remained empty and are now being sold, costing $20 million.
- High costs were paid to Florida for detention centers with poor conditions, including $249 per detainee per day, much higher than usual rates.
- ICE bought two contractor-owned detention facilities for $1.5 billion without assessing if owning them was affordable long-term.
- The Department of Homeland Security plans to create a strategic detention plan by August 2027, but this may be too late to avoid more waste.
- The program has targeted some people with legal statuses, including asylum seekers and green card holders, not just criminals.
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