Texas ICE Center Fails to Keep Records, Treat Patients, and Spends Millions

A federal inspection group uncovered a host of critical problems at a Texas detention center built under the former administration. The audit exposed significant, pervasive issues in planning and operations.

Key Findings

• Lack of Proper Force‑Use Records
  No log existed for a homicide case, and evidence was lost or destroyed.

• Neglect of Medical Care
  Inmates with serious conditions—diabetes, HIV—were left untreated. Many had no care plans.

• Mismanaged Staffing and Security
  A suicide occurred after an inmate was left unattended for over fifteen minutes in an unsuitable room.

• Unstable Contracting
  The center opened on a former military base in August 2025, assigned to a contractor with no detention experience. The contract switched to another firm in March 2026, highlighting instability.

• Financial Misconduct
  Taxpayer money was squandered on rushed contracts with little oversight.

Context

The facility’s rapid construction and hasty contracting reflect broader systemic issues in the previous administration’s approach to immigration detention. The failures raise urgent questions about future policy and oversight.