US GAO: Immigration Detention: Urgent Planning Needed to Avoid Further Waste of Taxpayer Dollars

News reports abound that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

Here are "fast facts" from the report:

"Since January 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has invested billions to expand detention capacity through six initiatives—including one to purchase and renovate warehouses. ICE purchased 11 warehouses for $1 billion.

We found that ICE pursued this and the other initiatives without necessary analysis and planning. ICE now intends to sell 7 of the 11 warehouses. But ICE spent over $20 million on costs it can't recover, such as security.

Developing a strategic plan for detention would help ICE better achieve its goals while also making better use of taxpayer dollars.

Our recommendation addresses this issue."