ICE spent $1B on detention warehouses without congressional notification

ICE obligated approximately $1 billion to purchase and retrofit warehouse facilities in 11 communities for use as mass immigration detention centers, without notifying Congress as required by federal appropriations law. The agency purchased converted Amazon-style distribution centers to hold thousands of detainees, with plans to operate eight mega-centers capable of holding up to 10,000 people each. Congressional Democrats and local officials learned of acquisitions through news reports rather than agency notification.