Politics

GAO finds ICE wasted millions on immigration detention expansion

ABC News reports that a congressional audit faulted immigration officials for spending millions on unused facilities and inflated costs.

Updated Sep 25, 2026 · 12:18 UTC5 reports

The short version

A Government Accountability Office report revealed that ICE spent tens of millions of dollars on ill-conceived detention expansion plans without a comprehensive strategic plan.[ABC News]
Wasted funds include $3 million for unused tents at Guantanamo Bay, $20 million spent maintaining warehouses being sold without holding detainees, and elevated daily rates for Florida facilities.[ABC News]
Despite receiving $45 billion to expand detention capacity and increasing its detainee population from 39,000 to 67,000, DHS does not expect to complete a formal expansion plan until August 2027.[ABC News]

Congressional investigators reported that ICE and other agencies wasted tens of millions of dollars expanding detention capacity without a strategic plan.[ABC News]
The GAO cited $3 million spent on unused tents at Guantanamo Bay and $20 million spent on unrecoverable expenses for seven warehouses that were purchased but never housed detainees.[ABC News]
ICE's detainee population grew from 39,000 in January 2025 to 67,000 as of July 30.[ABC News]
DHS authorized a reimbursement rate of $249 per detainee per day for a Florida grant, which is 171% higher than ICE's normal $92 rate.[ABC News]

Investigators warned that the Department of Homeland Security's target date of August 31, 2027, to implement a guidance plan may come too late to prevent further wasteful spending.[ABC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.