Republican members of Congress send letter to ICE seeking answers over $17 million spent on unused hotels for illegal immigrants



Republican members of Congress are investigating a recent inspector general report indicating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wrongfully allocated $87 million in a sole-source contract to a nonprofit in Texas.

ICE collaborated with a San Antonio-based nonprofit called Endeavors to provide housing for illegal immigrants in hotels. Last year, the Epoch Times reported, ICE spent “approximately $17 million for hotel space and services at six hotels that went largely unused between April and June 2021.”

The Congressional Republicans wrote a letter, in early May, to Tae Johnson, the Acting ICE Director, asking him to provide all of the relevant documents and information surrounding the deal.

The letter said, “We write to express alarm at the potential waste of millions in taxpayer money and abuse of the contracting process by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. According to a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (OIG) report, ICE officials bypassed the ordinary competitive process to award a large, sole source $87 million contract and then wasted at least $17 million of taxpayer money because hotel rooms intended for migrant families sat empty and were mostly unused.”

It went on to call the $17 million spent “unacceptable” and lamented the potential conflict of interests that might arise through the contract.

It said, “Wasting $17 million in unused hotel rooms paid for by the taxpayers is unacceptable. Unfortunately, these problems are not surprising given the potential conflicts of interest inherent in this particular contract.”

The letter was signed by Reps. James Comer, Michael Cloud, Jody Hicc, Glenn Grothman, Ralph Norman, Nancy Mace, Jim Jordan, Virginia Foxx, Bob Gibbs, Clay Higgins, Pete Sessions, Fred Keller, Andy Biggs, Andrew Clyde, Scott Franklin, Jake LaTurner, Pat Fallon, Yvette Herrell, and Byron Donalds.

The IG report prompted the congress members to speak out and raise ethical concerns about how the decision-making process to award the multi-million-dollar contract to a sole source instead of allocating it through a “competitive procurement process.”

The report said, “Rather than using the competitive procurement process, ICE awarded a solen source contract to Endeavors, which had provided an unsolicited proposal for housing migrant families in hotels.”

The Republicans’ letter to Johnson raises concerns over this potential conflict of interest, noting that Endeavors was able to secure these funds after hiring Andrew Lorenzen-Strait a longtime political ally of the Biden administration.

The letter said, “Endeavors won this contract and even larger contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services through a no bid process after hiring Andrew Lorenzen-Strait as Senior Director for Migrant Services and Federal Affairs, a political ally of this Administration.”

Chippendales hires lobbyists to help secure COVID-19 relief



Chippendales — the company that promotes exotic male dance troupes — is hiring political lobbyists as it seeks financial relief from a potential new round of federal pandemic aid.

Chippendales has retained the services of the white-show law and lobbying firm Greenberg Traurig to lobby for them on a pandemic-era program that was designed to provide relief for concert halls, movie theaters, and other ventures in the live events industry, Politico reported.

Lobbying records indicate that this is the first time Chippendales has retained federal level lobbyists.

The company’s move to hire lobbyists to help them secure pandemic relief shows how business of all shapes and sizes have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.

During the country’s 2020 economic shutdowns, closures hit the entertainment industry, especially live entertainment, hard. Like many other companies across the nation, Chippendales had to adapt to the “new normal” and even had to cancel its “Get Naughty” tour and live performances in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The company’s performers, adorned in their signature bow ties, cuffs, and short-shorts, posted at-home workout tutorials to keep the brand alive since they couldn’t perform. And instead of gyrating for bachelorettes in person, the company had its dancers host half-hour virtual strip teases through video conferencing services like Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts.

Now, Chippendales’ dancers have returned to the stage and are even joined by Vinny Guadagnino of “Jersey Shore” fame.

Chippendales has hired lobbyists as lawmakers on Capitol Hill are considering one final round of Covid relief that would provide assistance for small businesses including entertainment venues.

Prior to departing for its Easter recess, the US House of Representatives passed a bill containing Covid relief, but this bill faces strong opposition in the Senate where it needs support from at least ten Republicans who, as a party, have appeared hesitant to spend more on federal covid relief amidst of soaring inflation.

That said, Chippendales is not alone in the pursuit of more federal assistance. Trade groups that put on trade shows, convention hosts, and even escape rooms are joining Chippendales to lobby for federal relief.

Previously, concert venues and theaters had been included in federal relief programs that offered them an equivalent to 45% of their gross earned revenue in relief, and the venues were eligible for even more relief from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan initiative.

Despite this being the first time Chippendales has hired lobbyists, the company has previously worked with the government to trademark its signature collar and cuffs outfits.