How to query USAspending.gov to list ICE contract obligations by state for FY2025–2026?
Executive summary
USAspending.gov’s public search tools let researchers pull federal contract obligations and slice them by agency, fiscal year, award type and location; to list Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contract obligations by state for FY2025–FY2026, use the site’s Advanced Search to filter for ICE awards, contracts only, FY2025 and FY2026, then group or export by state (place of performance or recipient location) and verify totals against other federal spending datasets (e.g., Treasury Fiscal Data) because reporting and classification issues persist [1] [2] [3].
1. How the data is organized and what “obligations” mean
Federal award reporting on USAspending is built to let users examine obligations — money that agencies have promised to pay under awards — which is distinct from cash outlays recorded elsewhere, so researchers should treat reported obligations as commitments that may not equal dollars actually spent and consider cross-checking with Treasury Fiscal Data when appropriate [3] [2].
2. The fastest path on USAspending.gov: Advanced Search and the right filters
Begin on USAspending’s interface and open Advanced Search; set the awarding agency or funding agency field to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Department of Homeland Security if ICE is not selectable, restrict Award Type to “Contracts,” set Fiscal Year to 2025 and 2026, and then choose the data breakdown field for “Place of Performance State” or “Recipient Location State” depending on whether the goal is where the work happens or where the vendor is headquartered — these filtering and breakdown tools are core site functions highlighted by independent researchers and guides [1] [2].
3. Grouping, exporting and checking subtotals
After applying filters, use the site’s grouping or download/export features to produce a state-by-state table of obligation totals; many investigators and reporting outlets use USAspending’s export to CSV to calculate state sums or create maps, as demonstrated in independent contractor research and media reporting that cite USAspending records for vendor-level and state totals [1] [4]. If the platform’s UI limits on-the-fly grouping, export the raw award list and pivot by state in a spreadsheet to compute FY2025 and FY2026 obligations separately and combined.
4. Pitfalls and data-quality caveats reporters must not ignore
Congressional research and GAO reviews note continuing data quality and classification issues on USAspending, so state totals may be incomplete or misattributed due to missing place-of-performance entries, timing differences (award date vs obligation date), or post-publication adjustments; therefore, double-check high-value awards by clicking into award detail records on USAspending and consider corroborating with agency budget justifications or Treasury Fiscal Data where possible [2] [3].
5. Context and verification: sources that follow this method
Journalists and advocates routinely reproduce ICE contracting lists from USAspending — from local-law-firm rollups of state vendors to national media stories on Fortune 500 firms with active ICE contracts — illustrating the method’s practical utility but also the need for scrutiny when interpreting scale and intent [1] [4]. For budgetary context beyond contracts, Congressional Research Service analyses provide ICE budget authority trends for FY2024–FY2026 that help frame contract obligations within overall appropriations and requested increases [5] [6].
6. Practical checklist for a reliable run
Apply Advanced Search → Awarding Agency = ICE (or DHS) → Award Type = Contracts → Fiscal Years = 2025, 2026 → Breakdown = Place of Performance State or Recipient Location State → Export results and pivot by state → Reconcile totals with Treasury Fiscal Data and check individual award pages for anomalies; annotate any entries with missing state data as likely requiring supplemental verification [1] [3] [2].