ICE wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in rapid push to expand detention capacity, government watchdog finds

TL;DR

ICE spent billions in a rapid push to expand detention capacity, leading to millions in wasted taxpayer dollars due to poor planning.
The agency advanced billions to Chicago Title Insurance for detention facility acquisitions, including warehouses that are now planned for sale.
A GAO report found ICE failed to account for long-term costs, losing $20 million on unrecoverable costs from abandoned warehouse purchases.
ICE spent $2.2 billion to purchase four detention facilities from CoreCivic, which it continues to pay to operate.
The agency also paid excessive rates for state-operated facilities through FEMA reimbursements and for housing detainees at Bureau of Prisons facilities.
Abandoned initiatives included efforts to launch detention facilities at military bases and unused tents at Guantanamo Bay.
GAO concluded that "urgent planning" is necessary to reduce further waste, with ICE agreeing to produce a strategic plan by August 31, 2027.

Continue reading the original article