Overview

• Since the July funding boost, the average daily ICE detainee count has risen about 5% to roughly 60,000 as immigration arrests fell 11% from June highs.
• Eight current and former ICE and DHS officials say Corey Lewandowski’s gatekeeping has slowed spending and delayed adding detention beds.
• A June policy placing all contracts over $100,000 under Noem’s personal sign‑off has produced contracting “chaos,” according to these officials.
• DHS says hard‑nosed negotiations are saving taxpayers billions and has pursued state facility deals that critics argue add fewer beds at higher cost than private options.
• The administration cites nearly tripled deportations since January even as advocates report overcrowding and at least 17 detainee deaths this fiscal year.