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GAO: ICE has not assessed how inspection changes affect detention oversight

2 min read

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As immigration detention expanded, some inspections became less frequent and facilities faced more reliance on self-inspections, the Government Accountability Office found. GAO says ICE has not determined how the changes affected oversight or facility conditions. The Department of Homeland Security agreed with its recommendations.

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As the number of people in immigration detention grew, some inspections of detention facilities became less frequent and the government relied more on facility self-inspections, the Government Accountability Office found. ICE has not determined how the changes affected its oversight or facility conditions, the agency said in a report publicly released November 5.

Inspections are one way U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement identifies problems involving medical care and food service, among other areas. GAO's summary does not establish that the inspection changes caused harm to detainees.

A larger detained population

From April 2025 to April 2026, ICE added more than 40 facilities that detain noncitizens for over 72 hours, GAO said. Over that same period, the average daily detained population grew by more than 50 percent, reaching 61,817 people.

From fiscal year 2024 to July 2026, three of the four Department of Homeland Security entities conducting inspections changed their inspection frequency or stopped inspecting, according to GAO. The changes were not all decreases: the agency said frequency could increase or decrease. Some inspections became less frequent, while reliance on self-inspections increased.

What GAO wants ICE to do

GAO said ICE has not used evidence such as deficiencies identified in inspections and information on facilities' contract compliance to determine the effects of recent changes. It recommended that ICE use evidence to assess both the changes and whether the inspections together are sufficient to identify deficiencies and oversee compliance with detention standards.

GAO also recommended that ICE modify its own inspections where appropriate based on that assessment. DHS agreed with both recommendations. GAO's page lists them as open pending confirmation of the agency's actions.

Scope of the finding

GAO reviewed documentation on oversight changes through July 2026, analyzed ICE facility and population data, and interviewed DHS oversight officials. The product-page summary does not identify the conditions in every facility or report the outcome of a new ICE assessment. The linked full report and individual inspections were not reviewed for this article.

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