TransparencyOversight & ethics enforcement

GAO found ICE's detention-contract monitors report to the field managers they oversee, and ICE declined to change it.

Confidence: Confirmed · 1 sourceUnited States · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Also named

Oversight

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

What happened

GAO's report GAO-21-149 found that ICE's Contracting Officers' Representatives (CORs), who monitor detention facility contracts, are overseen and rated by field office management rather than headquarters, which GAO said does not provide sufficient independence. CORs in 8 of 12 field offices GAO interviewed cited concerns including lack of resources or support, supervisors limiting their use of contract enforcement tools, and supervisors bypassing their oversight role. GAO recommended ICE revise the structure so COR oversight is independent of field office management. ICE did not concur and pointed to supervisor training. GAO lists the recommendation as open, and as of June 2026 ICE officials said they do not plan to address it.

Sources (1)

U.S. Government Accountability OfficeCORs in eight of 12 field offices identified concerns including lacking resources or support, as well as supervisors limiting their ability to use contract enforcement tools... field office management, rather than headquarters, oversee COR work and assess COR performance, [which] does not provide sufficient independence for effective oversight.

Response

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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