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A U.S. subsidiary of GardaWorld, the Montreal-based security giant reportedly helping staff the Florida detention site known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” has been cleared to bid up to US$138 million on ICE contracts.
GardaWorld Federal Services, a Virginia-based arm of GardaWorld, was among dozens of companies shortlisted by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) under an emergency procurement program, government records show.
ICE’s agreement with GardaWorld’s U.S. subsidiary sets a limit of US$138 million (CAN$190 million) on the value of contracts the company can compete for, The Gazette has confirmed. The news was first reported by the Globe and Mail.
The contracts are part of a sweeping effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to expand detention capacity across the country.
GardaWorld was already contracted to provide security and correctional staff at “Alligator Alcatraz,” a remote facility in Ochopee, Fla. It is expected to house up to 3,000 detainees.
The site has drawn growing criticism from rights groups, who warn of poor oversight, overcrowding and unsafe conditions. It gained notoriety after Trump visited in July and jokingly referred to its swampy surroundings by saying there were “a lot of police officers in the form of alligators.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday that “Alligator Alcatraz” would serve as a model for future state-run migrant detention centres. She also said she hopes to launch similar facilities in the coming months, including in airports and jails.
According to the Miami Herald, GardaWorld was awarded a separate contract worth US$8 million to provide staffing for the Florida facility.
In July, The Gazette reported that GardaWorld was seeking armed guards for “a remote part of southern central Florida,” offering US$25 per hour, plus travel, meals and accommodation. The posting outlined strict requirements for applicants: candidates were required to hold Florida gun and security licences, have at least one year of armed experience, and legally own a registered semi-automatic handgun.
GardaWorld provides a wide range of private security services in Canada and abroad, including airport screening, cash transport and personal protection.
The company was founded by Stephan Crétier in Montreal, where he used a $30,000 mortgage on his house to launch the business. It remains headquartered in Montreal, though Crétier is now based in Dubai. He is worth nearly $4 billion, according to The Gazette’s recently published Rich List.
In 2022, Quebec’s provincial investment agency, Investissement Québec, invested $300 million in GardaWorld. A provincial spokesperson has previously said the investment was unrelated to the company’s U.S. contracts.
According to the Guardian, 13 people have died in ICE custody so far this year, including Canadian Johnny Noviello, who died at a Miami detention facility in June.
