Trump admin aims to spend $45B on facilities, other resources to expand illegal migrant detention

The Trump administration is seeking to spend as much as $45 billion over the next two years to expand its illegal-migrant detention program by building more facilities and adding services, according to a request for proposals posted online last week by the administration.

The request, reported by The New York Times, was made by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It asks for proposals from contractors for such items and services as new detention facilities, transportation and security guards. 

ICE does not yet have the budget to fulfill all the requests. But if adequately funded, the spending would represent more than a sixfold increase in such spending, according to the newspaper.

The request was posted last week with a deadline of Monday. DHS in the last fiscal year allocated about $3.4 billion for the entire custody operation, which ICE oversees, The Times also reported.

Senate Republicans approved a budget plan over the weekend that would give ICE up to $175 billion to use for immigration efforts. President Donald Trump ran his 2024 campaign on mass deportations and securing the U.S. southern border.