Fact Check: "The average cost of housing a detainee in U.S. immigration facilities is significant."
What We Know
The claim regarding the cost of housing a detainee in U.S. immigration facilities is supported by various reports and studies. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) primarily calculates its detention costs based on two main variables: the average dollar amount to house one adult detainee for one day (referred to as the bed rate) and the average daily population (ADP) of detainees. In fiscal year 2017, ICE operated on a budget of nearly $3 billion for its detention system, which indicates a significant financial commitment to housing detainees (GAO Report).
Furthermore, the GAO identified that ICE's methods for estimating these costs often contain inconsistencies and errors. For instance, in fiscal year 2016, ICE underestimated the actual bed rate by $5.42 per day, which, when applied to an average daily population of 34,000, resulted in an underestimation of over $62 million in its budget request (GAO Report). This suggests that the actual costs may be higher than officially reported.
Analysis
The evidence indicates that the costs associated with housing detainees are indeed significant. The GAO's findings highlight not only the budgetary figures but also the methodological issues within ICE's cost estimation processes. The report notes that while ICE's fiscal year 2018 detention cost estimate met some characteristics of a reliable cost estimate, it fell short in areas such as documentation and credibility (GAO Report). This raises concerns about the accuracy of the reported costs and suggests that the true financial burden of housing detainees could be even higher than stated.
Moreover, the annual budget for ICE is around $10 billion, which includes funding for various immigration enforcement activities, including detention centers (AP News). This substantial budget allocation further underscores the significant costs involved in the immigration detention system.
However, it is essential to consider the reliability of the sources. The GAO is a reputable government agency that conducts thorough investigations and audits, making its findings credible. In contrast, while news articles like those from AP provide context and current events, they may not always delve into the detailed methodologies behind budget calculations.
Conclusion
The claim that "the average cost of housing a detainee in U.S. immigration facilities is significant" is Partially True. The evidence supports the assertion that the costs are substantial, particularly when considering the budget allocations and the identified inaccuracies in ICE's cost estimation methods. However, the exact figures may be underestimated due to methodological flaws, which complicates the overall assessment of the claim.
Sources
- Immigration Detention: Opportunities Exist to Improve Cost Estimation
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics
- How Trump's big bill could change the US immigration system | AP News
- Private Prisons Are Ramping Up Detention of Immigrants
- The Cost of Immigration Enforcement and Border Security
