The federal agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has come under the microscope recently as Donald Trump’s aggressive crackdowns on immigrants sparks protests and pushback from some corners. Though immigration reform is something many voters support in theory, the brutal tactics some agents have used have been disturbing to many. But it’s not just the 20,000-person government agency, headed by Acting Director Todd Lyons that is orchestrating the push.
Hundreds of private companies contract with ICE, providing everything from internet services, to package delivery, to soap, bed linens, and festival tents. And ICE’s most significant spending may still be to come. The White House’s proposed budget, aka Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” has earmarked $75 billion in additional funds for ICE operations. The bulk of that spending, around $45 million, would go to increasing the government’s capacity for adult detentions and family residential centers.
