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ICE Awards GardaWorld Contracts for Detention, Transport

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 2:04 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

ICE Awards Contracts

ICE awarded two contracts to the U.S. arm of Montreal-based GardaWorld Security.
The San Antonio contract will convert a warehouse into a detention centre, valued between $17.3 million and over $1 billion.
The Texas contract for armed detainee transport, worth $100.5 million to $382.3 million, was suspended after a challenge on Sept 10.
GardaWorld previously ran Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” centre, which a DHS inspector-general report described as using inhumane metal enclosures.

Summary

Ellison Sues Abbott

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Governor Greg Abbott over ICE officer Christian Castro's extradition.
Texas law caps pre-extradition detention at 90 days; Castro was nearing the limit.
Judge Paul Scoggin set a $400,000 bond and a $200,000 bond with conditions.
Federal judge sided with Abbott, who said he was assessing whether Castro qualified as a fugitive.

History

Historical Context

In 1991 Adelanto operated as a state prison for adult males. After GEO Group bought the site in 2010, it signed a May 2011 contract with ICE that pays up to $112 per day per detainee, marking a move toward private-sector detention. The model later expanded, with ICE contracts reaching billions and prompting legal challenges from officials such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

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ICE Awards Contracts

ICE awarded two contracts to the U.S. arm of Montreal-based GardaWorld Security.
The San Antonio contract will convert a warehouse into a detention centre, valued between $17.3 million and over $1 billion.
The Texas contract for armed detainee transport, worth $100.5 million to $382.3 million, was suspended after a challenge on Sept 10.
GardaWorld previously ran Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” centre, which a DHS inspector-general report described as using inhumane metal enclosures.

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