New Facts: Florida Awards $1.4b in Immigrant Contracts

Florida’s emergency agency has now committed at least $1.4 billion from the state’s emergency fund for disasters to immigration arrests, detention and deportation, with almost half a billion added after the Everglades site closed in June. About $630 million has been paid so far, leaving roughly $812 million outstanding.

The jump came by adding millions to existing no-bid deals tied to the Everglades facility, using the governor’s ongoing emergency declaration on immigration. Many contract changes were never posted on the state’s vendor portal, and a quarterly spending report required by a new law is overdue.

IRG Global Management’s total grew from $112 million across four deals to $313 million. Doodie Calls stands at $219 million, and Garner Environmental Services at $152 million. One-time purchases at the site included $40,000 for pillows, $102,000 for gym equipment, and $52,000 for drinking water.

The agency is asking lawmakers for another $250 million to cover pending invoices, including $187.84 million for immigration work and $62.16 million for other disaster aid. It has already spent 68% of this year’s allocation and still owes CDR Health $16 million of a $56.9 million job at the Everglades facility. Doodie Calls still has nearly $40 million due on a $151 million sanitation contract while its total immigration work is valued at $219 million, and the disaster fund’s cash balance stood at $163 million.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources