ICE's average daily population in long-term detention rose fifty-two percent from April twenty twenty-five to April twenty twenty-six, as the agency scaled back key inspections.

Its main inspections moved from twice a year to annually or every two years. Unannounced inspections generally stopped, and some facilities shifted to assisted self-inspections.

The Office of Detention Oversight counted one hundred ninety-four inspections in fiscal twenty twenty-four and one hundred two in fiscal twenty twenty-five. The earlier count includes follow-ups; the later count generally excludes them and includes assisted self-inspections.

The Government Accountability Office found no documented systemwide assessment showing whether the changed oversight could identify medical, safety and contract-compliance problems in time.

ICE said the changes would ease provider burdens and secure detention space. Medical inspections continued. D H S said fewer inspections did not necessarily mean fewer facilities received a rated assessment.

D H S agreed with the recommendations but said they were already implemented. G A O kept them open: ICE still had not supplied an assessment covering the combined changes. Read the report at Public Rot.