Politics

EXCLUSIVE: DHS IG Tells Sen. Blackburn Agency ‘Considering’ Concerns Over $86.9 Million Contract To House Illegal Immigrants

Photo by Ken Cedeno-Pool/Getty Images

Henry Rodgers Chief National Correspondent
Font Size:

Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn received a response back from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Inspector General’s office in April, saying that the agency would consider looking into the $86 million used to house migrants crossing the southern border in hotels.

The Daily Caller first obtained the response from DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari after Blackburn sent a letter on March 30. The letter called for more information regarding the $86.9 million contract that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) awarded the Texas-based nonprofit company Endeavors to house around 1,200 illegal immigrant family members in hotel rooms.

The response, which was sent on April 12, says the DHS was “considering” Blackburn’s “concerns.” Fox News reported Tuesday that Endeavors is the subject of an ongoing evaluation to look into how “ICE plans to house migrant families in hotels, and how ICE selected a contractor to implement these plans.” The probe is reportedly named, “ICE’s Contract to House Migrants in Hotels.”

READ THE RESPONSE HERE: 

(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers

READ THE LETTER BLACKBURN SENT TO THE DHS: 

Blackburn DHS – ICE Hotel Rooms Letter (3!30!21) by Henry Rodgers on Scribd

“Over half a million illegals have been apprehended crossing into the U.S. since Biden has taken office,” Blackburn told the Daily Caller. “We also need to know if Biden’s border crisis is being fueled by his personal favors and dealings.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Tennessee Republicans Send Letter To DHS, HHS Calling For Answers Over Facilities Used To House Illegal Immigrants)

Around 1,200 migrant family members were reportedly set to be housed in the hotels as part of a contract awarded by the Biden administration, Axios reported. (RELATED: Biden Administration To Spend $86 Million Housing Migrants In Hotels)

In late May, Blackburn, Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty and Tennessee Rep. Chuck Fleischmann called on the DHS and Health and Human Services (HHS) to hold a briefing with them to discuss the management of unaccompanied minors — specifically in Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee — after a report surfaced that migrant children are allegedly being transported at night to cities throughout the southeastern U.S.