Immigration and Customs Enforcement will discontinue the majority of its contract with Endeavors, a faith-based aid group that was providing temporary shelter and processing assistance to migrants and asylum seekers here.
ICE signed an almost $87 million contract with Endeavors last March to provide shelter and processing services to a little over 1,200 asylum seekers at a time in Arizona and Texas.
Under the contract, the group housing migrants in eight hotels in both states and administering COVID-19 tests. An ICE spokesperson said as of Dec. 31, the agency would terminate use of all but two of those hotels.
In Arizona, aid organizations have also been helping to house, test and transport migrants after they’re released by ICE and Border Patrol.
The ICE spokesperson said the majority of Endeavors hotels were closing because the agency was opting to use more detention alternative programs, which are a more "effective, efficient and cost-effective case management solution."
