GAO Report Finds ICE Squandered Over $20 Million on Unused Detention Warehouses
The Government Accountability Office found ICE spent more than $20 million converting warehouses into detention centers without a strategic plan, and the agency has since scaled back the initiative. ICE plans to sell all but four of the 11 purchased warehouses, potentially losing money if sold below $707 million. Senator Dick Durbin, who requested the report, criticized the waste as contradicting Trump's promise to eliminate government inefficiency.
The GAO report details how ICE acquired 11 warehouse properties for $1.07 billion during the first four months of 2026, then abandoned most of the plan after Markwayne Mullin took over as Homeland Security secretary. Beyond the purchase price, the agency spent roughly $20.7 million combined on zoning approvals, utilities, security, and related upkeep for facilities it now intends to divest.
The agency's detention population exceeded 67,000 people by late July, and the number of authorized detention centers has approximately doubled. ICE has also signed five construction contracts valued at up to $7.3 billion across Arizona, California, Florida, New York, and Texas, while DHS has committed to developing a strategic plan by August 31.
This report could deepen public skepticism about immigration enforcement spending, particularly among taxpayers who see large sums directed at facilities that may never operate. Communities near the purchased warehouses may face uncertainty about property values and local economic impacts. The findings may also influence congressional oversight hearings and budget negotiations, potentially slowing future detention expansion efforts or prompting stricter reporting requirements for DHS spending.