ICE taps nonprofit to house some migrant families in border-area hotels

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to start housing some migrant families who cross the southern border without authorization in hotels in Texas and Arizona, the agency and a person familiar with the plan told CBS News.

In a statement, interim ICE director Tae Johnson said the agency had signed an $86.9 million contract with Endeavors, a Texas-based nonprofit, to provide short-term housing to migrant families who are not expelled by U.S. border officials under a Trump-era public health order. Johnson said the contract will provide more than 1,200 beds. Endeavors is expected to start housing migrant parents and children in seven hotels in April, according to the person familiar with the plan. The nonprofit will offer families medical screenings, COVID-19 testing, meals, mental health services, on-site security, transportation planning assistance and access to lawyers, the person said.