ICE awards new contracts to Quebec-based GardaWorld for Texas detention projects
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement granted two contracts to the American arm of Montreal-based GardaWorld for a Texas detention centre renovation and armed transport of detainees, with a combined minimum value of about US$118 million.
ICE awarded two new agreements to the U.S. branch of Montreal-based security firm GardaWorld in late August, targeting Texas operations. One contract calls for the refurbishment of a San Antonio warehouse into a detention centre, with a minimum price of around US$17.3 million and the potential to exceed US$1 billion. The second covers armed ground transportation of detainees, starting at roughly US$100.5 million and possibly rising to a higher amount.
After a competing contractor challenged the award, ICE placed the transport contract on hold. GardaWorld, which benefitted from a C$300 million Quebec investment in 2022, was previously linked to the “Alligator Alcatraz” facility in the Florida Everglades, which faced criticism over detainee treatment. Officials from both ICE and GardaWorld declined further comment on the new deals.
Why it matters
The contracts expand a Canadian security firm's role in U.S. immigration detention, raising concerns about oversight and human-rights standards.
How this story developed
- Aug 13 San Antonio immigrants live in constant fear as ICE arrests surge
- Aug 18 ICE released a draft plan to provide liability insurance to local officers making immigration arrests.
- Aug 22 San Diego County board approved a narrow vote to halt ICE and CBP firearms training at county‑owned ranges.
- Aug 23 An investigation found that 71% of detainee grievances were dismissed and only 8% were resolved in detainees’ favor.
- Aug 25 ICE began using a $45 billion allocation to shift legal ownership of detention centers to the federal government.
- Sep 1 ICE placed a mother and her adult daughter into custody after a hospital intake following a car crash in Florida.
- Sep 1 ICE carried out a raid in Memphis that arrested more than 100 people, the largest raid in the city’s history.
- Sep 11 A judge dismissed the deportation case against the Andhra Pradesh woman, yet ICE continued to require her reporting.
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