GAO finds tens of millions wasted on ICE detention expansion
publishers 3articles 3first reported 24 Sep, 16:43 UTCdeveloping since 24 Sep · 5 editions
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies have wasted tens of millions of dollars while pursuing plans to rapidly expand immigration detention capacity, according to a Government Accountability Office investigation reported Thursday.
The GAO documented costly problems across several initiatives undertaken since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025 and directed an expansion of immigration enforcement. Investigators described the detention projects as poorly informed and warned that the losses are likely to grow because of continuing mismanagement.
Politico characterized the findings as millions wasted in the administration’s deportation push, while ABC News and The Guardian reported that the total already reaches tens of millions of dollars. The findings concern federal efforts to add detention space quickly as ICE carries out the administration’s mass detention and deportation agenda.
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