U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a substantial order with Canadian defense manufacturer Roshel for 20 armored vehicles designed to withstand bullets and bomb explosions. Government records indicate a rush order valued at around $10 million CAD for 20 Senator STANG emergency response tactical vehicles. The decision for a sole-source order was disclosed in a redacted document on a U.S. federal procurement website on Nov. 26, with the contract being awarded on Nov. 28.
The procurement document stated that only Roshel, based in Brampton, Ontario, was able to meet the department’s vehicle requirements promptly to support field agents and fulfill the order within 30 days. The document highlighted that Roshel confirmed the immediate availability of vehicles meeting ICE’s specifications, as other sources consulted had limited quantities or couldn’t meet the technical requirements within the necessary timeframe.
The purchase was initially reported by The Independent, a U.K.-based newspaper. Roshel has supplied numerous Senator vehicles to Ukraine for its conflict with Russia, emphasizing the vehicles’ blast protection in their marketing materials.
Despite the ongoing controversies surrounding ICE and alleged human rights violations during President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, the department proceeded with the purchase. This move comes amid Trump’s protectionist trade policy, including efforts to attract jobs and industries from the Canadian steel, manufacturing, and automotive sectors.
ICE dismissed other U.S.-based heavy vehicle manufacturers like Alpine Amoring Inc., CITE Armored, Inc., DGM LLC, and Lenco Armored Vehicles, citing their failure to meet all requirements and timelines. The procurement document stressed that delaying the procurement for a competitive process would impede operational readiness and the timely deployment of critical resources.
Requests for comments from Roshel, Global Affairs Canada, and ICE on this matter were not immediately responded to. The document estimated the total cost for the vehicle fleet to be approximately $7,331,200 USD.