Project Salt Box

@projectsaltbox

Public records enthusiasts. Tracking the flow of post-OBBBA homeland security procurements and government contracts. Proudly based in Baltimore, MD. ⚫️🟡🦀🔴⚪️ Track ICE warehouses:

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Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· 7d

Meanwhile, the General Services Administration last week issued a $128K contract to "convert a supply storage room into a secure detainee eating room" at the Calexico West Border Crossing.

Screenshot of a contract description field on a federal solicitation and award website which says that a contract will "convert an existing supply storage room into a secure detainee eating room in accordance with the statement of work at the Calexico West Border Station, Administration Building, 200 First Street, Calexico, CA 92231."

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· 7d

🚨ICE has awarded CoreCivic $536.2 million to operate the Prairie Correction Facility in Appleton, Minnesota as an immigration jail. The period of performance begins August 11.

Screenshot of a contract award showing that ICE has awarded CoreCivic with a $536 million contract to operate the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, MN as an immigration jail.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· 8d

At $305.7M, this ranks at the top of the approval ladder. Under FAR 8.405-6(d), a noncompetitive award this large would ordinarily be signed by the DHS senior procurement executive, the department's Chief Procurement Officer at HQ. This one was approved at ICE's head-of-contracting level instead.

Screenshot of the approval page of an ICE Office of Acquisition Management "Sole Source Justification," headed "RFO FAR 8.401(b) (Class Deviation 25-20)" with the DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement logos at top right. Under "10. Approval," the name Albert J. Dainton appears twice as a digital signature. The first signs the "Procuring Activity Advocate for Competition" line, dated 2026.07.16 at 10:03:58. The second signs the "Head of Contracting Activity" line, dated 2026.07.16 at 10:04:52. The same person signed both roles about a minute apart.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· 11d

When ICE tells you they’re targeting the worst of the worst, this is what they mean. ICE arrested Ameaka at BWI airport, and immediately moved her out of state to a GEO facility in Louisiana. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

Screenshot of two paragraphs of article text reading: "Ameaka began studying for a master's degree in public health in 2023 as a Fulbright scholar, according to her LinkedIn page. She's affiliated with the university's environmental health and engineering department and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, according to her faculty page on the university's website. She's also the founder of a peer education organization, BodyTalk, which aims to educate young women and girls about self-esteem, health and body positivity."

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· 17d

ICE posted an RFI for over 1,000 "surge parking" spaces in 14 cities across the nation. While the posting doesn't state a specific time, it could indicate increased presence in those cities in the near future. sam.gov/workspace/co...

Screenshot of a list of cities and needed parking spaces.

Sacramento, CA - 40 spaces
Englewood, CO - 250 spaces
Dallas, TX - 85 spaces
Bakersfield, CA - 40 spaces
Roswell, NM - 20 spaces
Tukwila, WA - 100 spaces
Boston, MA - 249 spaces
Oxford, MS - 14 spaces
Las Vegas, NV - 25 spaces
Philadelphia, PA - 150 spaces
Pittsburgh, PA - 60 spaces
STL, MO - 30 spaces
New Orleans, LA - 20 spaces
Phoenix, AZ - 74 spaces

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· 20d

Baltimore Magazine's editors (unexpectedly) named Project Salt Box "Best Watchdog." Thank you to the readers, partners, and sources who make our work possible.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· Jul 10

🚨 ICE has officially issued a contract award to the GEO Group to re-open the Big Horn Contract Detention Facility in Hudson, Colorado. The contract will operate to the tune of $528.7M. The private jail has approximately 1,000 beds.

A screenshot of a contract award order to the GEO Group, showing a total contract value of $528,678,643.44. The document was signed July 9, 2026.

A screenshot of a contract award describing the services as "detention and detention related services at the Big Horn Contract Detention Facility in Hudson, Colorado." Awardee information shows GEO Group of Boca Raton, Florida as the recipient.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· Jul 6

For what good it might do, we previously submitted a FOIA request for due diligence and NEPA documents affiliated with these suspected (now partially confirmed) private prison sales.

Screenshot of the ICE FOIA SecureRelease portal showing the read-only details page for request number 2026-ICFO-31191. Navigation tabs at the top read Details, Contact Information, Documents, Messages, and Appeal, with a red Cancel button at right. The Request Description asks for copies of all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) records prepared, received, completed, or dated on or after July 1, 2025, relating to listed detention facilities, including Records of Environmental Consideration, categorical exclusion determinations, environmental assessments, findings of no significant impact, environmental impact statements, notices of intent and availability, scoping materials, and correspondence between ICE and third-party environmental firms, under DHS Directive 023-01. The request lists facility addresses in Tacoma WA, Adelanto CA, California City CA, San Diego CA, Conroe TX, Jena LA, Aurora CO, Leavenworth KS, and Hammond LA, along with alternate facility names such as Northwest ICE Processing Center, Otay Mesa Detention Center, Montgomery Processing Center, and Winn Processing Center. The Agency field shows Department of Homeland Security and the Component field shows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· Jun 26

Yesterday CA AG Rob Bonta filed for a preliminary injunction against DHS over the ICE facility near Gilroy. FOIA'd GSA docs show the government skipped environmental review by claiming 'minimal change' in occupancy, on a former pesticide research site with septic sized for 40 people.

Court filing excerpt, lines 9–23, with lines 9–10 highlighted in yellow. The highlighted text reads: "On June 19, 2026, Plaintiffs learned of partially redacted GSA documents that a government transparency group obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and then published."
The remaining text describes the documents (Murillo Decl. Exs. T–V). They include a GSA "NEPA Memo to File" identifying the Holsclaw Property lease by number, which describes the action as a "20 years/15 years firm New/Replacing Lease (relocation from existing building)" and claims it qualifies for a NEPA categorical exclusion covering acquisition of space within an existing structure "where no change in the general type of use and only minimal change from previous occupancy level is proposed." The filing notes this was the first time Plaintiffs learned Defendants were claiming a NEPA categorical exclusion. The documents also include an undated GSA "Floodplain Memorandum" identifying the project by GSA solicitation number, which admits the action is located "in the 100-year floodplain" while alleging "there are no practicable alternatives." The excerpt concludes that, based on the gathered information, it appears Defendants are developing the Holsclaw Property at least in part into an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) holding facility.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· Jun 23

GILROY, CA — FOIA docs reveal the upcoming Holsclaw Rd project is a direct replacement/expansion for ICE’s current office in nearby Morgan Hill. Cross-referencing GSA Project No. 8CA3614 with the GSA lease inventory shows Lease GS-09P-LCA03304 at 220 Vineyard Ct expires on 8/31/2026.

A screenshot of a redacted official document from the U.S. General Services Administration, titled "Justification for No Practicable Alternatives" for GSA Project Number 8CA3614. Heavy black redaction boxes labeled with FOIA exemption code "(b)(7)(F)" cover the agency name and specific addresses. The legible text states that the agency currently occupies 10,033 square feet of office space under GSA Lease Number GS-09P-LCA03304, which expires on 8/31/2026. It notes a formal request for a larger space of approximately 17,000 square feet, requiring 60 surface or reserved parking spaces, contiguous space, and ground floor space only.

A screenshot of a spreadsheet containing a government lease inventory. One row is highlighted in bright yellow, showing a lease for an address at 220 Vineyard Ct Suite 100, Morgan Hill, CA, zip code 95037. The lease number is LCA03304, with a start date of 9/1/2016 and an expiration date of 8/31/2026. Other rows display similar lease data for various California cities like San Diego, Yreka, Oakland, and Fresno.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· Jun 22

New stats in the tracker: - The current value of all warehouses for sale (how much ICE has to earn back to recoup what it spent) - How many detention beds ICE is shedding in each sale or transfer - A running count of all warehouses listed

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· Jun 19

That's a good catch. Cleaned it up to now more correctly read:

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· Jun 1

Today in “bonkers responses from a government agency.”

Screenshot of a text excerpt labeled “DHS Spox,” showing a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson’s response. The statement says DHS is reviewing agency policies and wants to “work with community leaders” and “be good partners.” It then attacks critics, saying the issue “isn’t about the environment” but about stopping President Trump from “making America safe again,” and claims critics want undocumented immigrants “to stay forever and vote here.” The final paragraph says ICE evaluated existing facilities before purchase to minimize environmental impacts to protected species, natural resources and cultural resources.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 29

www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_A...

Contract Summary table of ICE transactions for the Delaney Hall detention services award, listing spending by object class: Operation and maintenance of facilities (25.4) $4,448,574; Operation and maintenance of facilities (25.4) $5,625,200; Medical care (25.6) $822,109; Travel and transportation of persons (21.0) $10,000; Operation and maintenance of facilities (25.4) $9,606,100.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 23

🚨UPDATE: ICE awarded a $25 million dollar contract to Bi2 yesterday for “access to a biometric system to allow ICE agents to quickly authenticate the identity of subjects during field operations.”

Screenshot of an "Awardee Information" section from a federal contract record. Entity Name: BI2 TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. CAGE Code: 7VJ93. Unique Entity ID (UEI): MLM7BJXXQXA9. Doing Business As: blank. Ultimate Parent Entity Name: BI2 TECHNOLOGIES LLC. Ultimate Parent Unique Entity ID (UEI): MLM7BJXXQXA9.

Screenshot of a "Description" section from a federal contract record. Text reads: "This is a new award for iris biometric recognition technology for offender recognition and access to a biometric information system to allow ICE agents to quickly authenticate the identity of subjects during field operations."

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 20

NEW: ICE partially lifted its stop work order for KVG LLC in Williamsport, MD. This is most likely to allow the construction of exterior fencing and interior offices, in line with Judge Hurson’s April order blocking renovation of the facility into a “detention center.”

Screenshot of text reading: 'THIS TASK ORDER IS FOR THE RENOVATION OF EXISTING, ICE-OWNED PERMANENT STRUCTURE IN HAGERSTOWN, MD. THIS MODIFICATION PARTIALLY LIFTS THE STOP WORK ORDER.'

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 15

Wash Co. BOCC says "no NDA" with ICE. This tracks with statements from other cities and counties, as well as ICE's own statements to us. Local governments did not sign NDAs with ICE prior to purchase — as shown in the timeline established by the Social Circle, GA complaint filed earlier this week.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 14

It appears as if ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor is recruiting immigration-appellate attorneys through the Stevenage Football Club jobs board in the UK. For an administration deeply concerned about foreigners taking American jobs, this is an unexpectedly global hiring strategy.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 14

Not ICE-related, but the Secret Service just put out a request for quotes for 37 golf carts, utility vehicles, and a mini ambulance for use on "golf course grounds" in Bedminster, N.J. Wonder whose place that might be. 🙃

Screenshot of a SAM.gov solicitation that describes the Secret Service's needs for golf carts, utility vehicles, and a mini-ambulance for use on golf course grounds in Bedminster, NJ. A table of figures shows that the USSS requests 29 2-passenger golf carts; 8 4-passenger golf carts; 6 Carryall 700 utility vehicles; and 1 first responder mini ambulance.

A photograph of a large clubhouse with a patio and fountain on the Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, NJ.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 13

That response is difficult to reconcile with public federal contracting records. Between Oct. 2025 and Feb. 2026, USCIS issued at least three task orders to Palantir explicitly referencing implementation of the VOWS platform, including “Phase 0,” “Phase 1,” and “Phase 2.”

Screen capture of a federal spending database table showing three USCIS task orders awarded to Palantir Technologies for the “Vetting of Wedding-Based Schemes” (VOWS) platform. The table includes columns for Prime Award ID, Obligations, Outlays, and Award Description.

The first entry, award 70SBUR26F00000003, obligated about $100,000 and states: “THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO IMPLEMENT PHASE 0 OF THE VETTING OF WEDDING-BASED SCHEMES (VOWS) PLATFORM.”

The second entry, award 70SBUR26F00000055, obligated $99,500 and describes a “FOLLOW-ON PHASE 2 VOWS TASK ORDER” intended to help USCIS implement the platform and transition to a “PROACTIVE, TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN” approach.

The third entry, award 70SBUR26F00000026, also obligated $99,500 and contains nearly identical language for “FOLLOW-ON PHASE 1” implementation of the VOWS platform.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 12

Quick refresher... This year, ICE has bought 11 warehouses as part of its detention expansion plan. Two projects have been paused by court order or settlement with state AGs. Two more face active litigation, including one with a construction contract already awarded. Seven others remain in limbo.

Map titled “ICE Warehouse Acquisitions” showing warehouses ICE has purchased as part of its detention expansion plan across the United States. Squares are color-coded by status and scaled by proposed detention bed capacity. Teal squares indicate purchased sites, mustard yellow indicates sites in litigation, and muted red indicates paused projects. Larger squares represent higher proposed bed counts, with a legend ranging from roughly 900 to 9,000 beds.

The map shows sites concentrated in the Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast. Large purchased sites appear in Utah, Texas, Georgia, and Pennsylvania/New Jersey. Litigation sites appear in Arizona and Michigan. Paused sites appear in Maryland and New Jersey/Pennsylvania. The largest proposed facilities are located in the Northeast and Southeast clusters. Source noted as Project Salt Box ICE Warehouse Tracker.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 12

This chart reflects PSB's best understanding of the surveillance and data systems tied into ICE operations, from airline reservation data and license plate readers to Palantir and field mobile biometrics. Built from a review of ICE contracts, FOIA documents, technical specs, and public reporting.

A large network diagram maps data flows and surveillance capabilities connected to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. At the top is DHS, branching into ICE, Customs and Border Protection, TSA, and USCIS. ICE further divides into Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.

The chart shows multiple government databases and data streams feeding into immigration enforcement systems. Inputs include detainee telephone services, border intelligence analytics, encounter and removal records, traveler and vehicle imagery, passenger reservation data, checkpoint screening and watchlists, visa and immigration paperwork, DMV records, CODIS DNA data, NCIC and NICS law enforcement databases, and license plate readers. Many of these feed into central databases labeled “IDENT/HART, TECS, EID” and “ImmigrationOS + ICM,” the latter associated with Palantir.

A central node labeled “ICE HSI Raven” connects to commercial surveillance and data analysis tools. Vendors and tools shown include Graphite Spyware, Cobwebs & Tangles, Mobile Fortify, Skip Tracing, Clearview AI, and facial biometrics systems. Companies named in gray labels include Palantir, Clearview AI Inc., Paragon Solutions, Global Recovery Group LLC, Penlink Ltd., CORSIGHT, and SOSi International LLC.

Arrows indicate information sharing between DHS agencies, state and local law enforcement, private surveillance vendors, and ICE field agents at the bottom of the chart. Dashed arrows represent indirect or aggregated data flows. A callout box near the detainee telephone service node references a “10,000 sq ft” technology delegation and event hosting space, proximity to AI model and application companies, 30 permanently assigned agents, and a SAM.gov solicitation number.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 12

Michigan — save the date! The Coalition to Shut the Camps is encouraging anyone able to attend the hearing of Michigan v. DHS on May 18. Details in the image + alt text.

A red and white flyer titled "Show up at the courthouse!" A call to action says to "Join the City of Romulus and State of Michigan in saying NO to ICE cages in our community." An address for the Theodore Levin courthouse is provided as 231 West Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. The time to arrive is 9:30 AM outside the courthouse, with a peaceful and lawful witnessing of the hearing at 10:30 AM in courtroom 250.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 11

BREAKING NEWS FROM HAGERSTOWN: ICE has informed a federal judge that, as part of the allowed ongoing activity at the Williamsport detention warehouse during the temporary injunction, “a plumber was called in to fix a clogged toilet.”

Screenshot of a federal court filing in Maryland v. Mullin. The highlighted passage states that ICE is continuing to comply with the court’s preliminary injunction at the Williamsport warehouse site and notes that “a plumber was called in to fix a clogged toilet.” The document is dated May 6, 2026.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 11

The account, called the “Breached Bond Detention Fund," is funded through forfeited immigration bonds — money collected when someone misses immigration court or violates release conditions. ICE can use the fund for detention expenses without waiting for a new annual appropriation from Congress.

Screenshot of a text excerpt explaining ICE’s “Breached Bond Detention Fund,” or BBDF. The passage states that money collected from breached immigration bonds is deposited into the BBDF by statute. It says ICE may use the fund to pay for detention bed space and costs associated with collecting unpaid bond amounts. The excerpt also argues that properly administered bonds encourage immigrants to surrender to ICE custody, leave the United States on time, or comply with supervision orders.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 11

OMB updated one of ICE’s detention-related funding accounts on April 30. The overall amount of money did not change. Instead, OMB shifted more than $26 million into 3rd quarter availability while reducing both expected carryover balances and 4th quarter authority.

The graphic shows an annotated OMB apportionment document for the “Breached Bond Detention Fund,” an ICE detention-related account. A headline at the top reads: “OMB Shifts Detention Fund Spending Earlier in FY2026.” A short description explains that OMB moved more funding into the third quarter while reducing expected carryover and fourth-quarter authority, without increasing the total account size.

The document compares two iterations of the account: Iteration 2 from March 3, 2026 and Iteration 3 from April 30, 2026. Colored annotations highlight three key changes in the lower section of the table.

A green box and arrow point to the third-quarter line item, where available authority increased by about $26.8 million, from roughly $6.8 million to $33.5 million.

A red box and arrow point to the fourth-quarter line item, where authority decreased by about $6.8 million, falling to zero.

Another red annotation highlights the “Anticipated Carryover” line, where projected unused funds decreased by $20 million, from about $55.3 million to $35.3 million.

The total budgetary resources line remains unchanged at about $90.3 million in both iterations.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 11

Thanks Katherine! Yes, we are sadly tracking that one — and the potential re-opening of a the Walsenberg facility south of it. Over at tracker.projectsaltbox.com, use the dropdown above the map and select "Potential Site Reopenings" to see these and other facilities ICE wants to use.

Screenshot of a map of Colorado. Two purple circles indicate potential ICE prison re-openings; one is in Hudson and the other is in Walsenberg.

Screenshot of a dark dropdown menu, featuring selections for various types of ICE facilities of interest. A checkmark appears next to "Potential Site Reopenings."

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 8

Given all that has happened with the warehouse initiative this spring, it's fascinating to revisit this ICE statement from early March, where they admitted the purpose of these facilities and alluded to rigorous due diligence. We also stopped seeing these economic impact figures soon after, too.

Screenshot of an ICE email which reads: "“ICE purchased a facility in Hagerstown, Maryland. These are not warehouses — they will be very well-structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards. Sites will undergo community impact studies and a rigorous due diligence process to make sure there is no hardship on local utilities or infrastructure prior to purchase. The Hagerstown, Maryland, facility and its construction are expected to bring 1,125 jobs to the area and would contribute $120.6 million in GDP. It’s also projected to bring in about $28.8 million in tax revenue."

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 7

ICE's planned Williamsport, Md., detention facility hits another snag: a consulted tribe has requested additional information on ground disturbances, contractor KVG LLC has yet to produce those plans. Also, ICE acknowledges the project does require a full Environmental Assessment, after all.

Screenshot of an email dated Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from Gabrielle Fernandez at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, subject line 'ICE Baltimore Processing Facility.' The email is addressed to consulting parties and provides an update on the proposed ICE detention center at 10900 Hopewell Road in Hagerstown, Maryland. It states that ICE has received a request for additional information from one tribe, that ICE is awaiting final design from its contractor regarding ground disturbance, and that ICE has determined the project warrants the development of an Environmental Assessment under NEPA. The email is cut off at the bottom of page 2. A yellow warning banner notes the message originated from an external source.

Project Salt Box@projectsaltbox· May 7

ICE’s FY2026 287(g) salary reimbursement apportionments have now surpassed $1 billion, according to OpenOMB records. The funding helps pay individual officer salaries for state and local agencies participating in ICE immigration enforcement partnerships.