# ICE Awards Texas Detainee Transport Contracts

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has awarded multiple contracts to GardaWorld Federal Services to establish and operate a comprehensive armed ground transportation system for detainees across Texas, alongside renovation and operation of a new detention facility in San Antonio. The transportation contract, valued at approximately **$382 million**, covers detainee movement from local law enforcement to ICE facilities statewide, with full operations expected within 120 days. Additionally, a contract exceeding **$17 million** funds the renovation of a warehouse into a detention center capable of housing up to 1,500 detainees. These contracts reflect ICE's response to increased immigrant arrests and involve significant operational scale and security requirements.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should note the scale and scope of these contracts, including the potential for a multi-year extension on transportation services, indicating ongoing demand for secure detainee transport and facility management in Texas.
- GardaWorld's role as prime contractor highlights opportunities and risks associated with vendors previously involved in controversial detention operations, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and compliance oversight.
- Agencies and contractors involved in detention facility construction, security services, and transportation logistics may find emerging opportunities in Texas and similar jurisdictions.
- The contracts' geographic focus on Texas cities such as San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth underscores regional procurement priorities and operational hubs for detainee management.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Topics:** Contracting Vehicles, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 19, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Bexar County Sheriff's Office

### Vendors
- GardaWorld Federal Services (prime contractor)
- GardaWorld Security (prime contractor)

### Key Quotes
> There is just a general situation where you have a context of heightened human rights risk and serious concerns about whether GardaWorld had done proper due diligence, was taking proper steps to ensure that this Canadian company would not be involved in that abuse.
> — Karen Hamilton, Director of Above Ground

> This kind of facility goes against San Antonio’s values.
> — Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [ICE launches private system to transport detainees across Texas](https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/gardaworld-ice-contract-texas-armed-transport-22437462.php) - San Antonio Express-News
- [New ICE contracts for Quebec-based security firm involved with ‘Alligator Alcatraz’  | Globalnews.ca](https://globalnews.ca/news/12062366/ice-contract-quebec-security-firm-gardaworld-alligator-alcatraz) - Global News