# ICE Revises Detention Expansion Strategy

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified significant inefficiencies in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) $45 billion detention expansion plan through fiscal 2029. Key issues include costly investments in underutilized detention facilities such as tents at Guantanamo Bay and warehouses purchased across the U.S., some of which ICE now plans to sell at a potential loss. Despite the large budget increase, ICE lacks a comprehensive strategic plan to guide detention capacity expansion, raising concerns about oversight and cost-effectiveness. Procurement professionals and contractors involved in detention facility acquisitions and operations should anticipate potential shifts in ICE's procurement priorities and facility management strategies as the agency reassesses its approach to detention infrastructure.

- ICE's detention expansion includes a **$1.07 billion** purchase of 11 warehouses and a **$1.5 billion** acquisition of two contractor-owned detention facilities, both now subject to reevaluation.
- The absence of a strategic plan increases risks of contract modifications, cancellations, or rescoping, impacting vendors like incumbent private prison contractor GEO.
- Procurement teams should monitor ICE and DHS communications for updated requirements or disposal plans affecting detention facility assets.
- This situation underscores the importance of strategic planning and oversight in large-scale federal infrastructure procurements to avoid costly inefficiencies.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 25, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

### Vendors
- GEO (incumbent private prison contractor)

### Sources
- [
        ICE is wasting tens of millions of dollars on ‘uninformed’ detention projects, report finds | Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-oversight/2026/09/ice-is-wasting-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-on-uninformed-detention-projects-report-finds) - Federal News Network
- [ICE’s $45 billion detention expansion is littered with costly missteps, watchdog reports - Government Executive](https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2026/09/ices-45-billion-detention-expansion-littered-costly-missteps-watchdog-reports/416220) - GovExec.com