U.S. government watchdog says immigration agency wasted tens of millions on detention expansion

A U.S. government watchdog reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wasted tens of millions of dollars on poorly planned detention expansion projects. The report, released Thursday, found $2.85 million spent on unused tents at Guantanamo Bay, $20 million on warehouses that never held detainees, and excessive payments to a Florida facility. ICE received $45 billion from Congress but lacks a strategic plan. The detainee population has grown from 39,000 to 67,000 since January 2025. The Department of Homeland Security plans to develop a strategy by 2027, but the watchdog warns further waste is likely.