Houston e-commerce firm Cart.com wins role in $55 billion ICE detention program

The PayPal Ventures-backed company was awarded a contract under the controversial WEXMAC TITUS program to support immigrant detention facilities.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The U.S. Department of War announced that the Houston-based e-commerce services company Cart.com was awarded one of 24 new slots on a potentially $65 billion program administered by the U.S. Navy to support the expansion of immigrant detention facilities across the country. The WEXMAC TITUS program has drawn criticism for its ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the rapid growth of detention centers.

Why it matters

The WEXMAC TITUS program has faced scrutiny for its role in supporting the expansion of the immigrant detention system under the Trump administration. Cart.com's involvement as a new contractor raises concerns about the private sector's growing role in the detention of immigrants, as well as the broader implications for civil liberties and human rights.

The details

The WEXMAC TITUS program is an expansion of a long-running U.S. Navy contract that now includes a focus on 'temporary staging facilities' for ICE. Cart.com, a PayPal Ventures-backed e-commerce company, was one of 24 new awardees announced on Friday. The program has also included contracts with private prison giants like The Geo Group and CoreCivic, as well as other companies like the disaster response firm Gothams.

  • The initial batch of 96 WEXMAC TITUS awards were announced on September 4, 2025.
  • An additional seven TITUS contracts were announced on September 30, 2025.
  • Eight more TITUS contracts were announced on January 16, 2026.
  • The latest 24 TITUS contracts, including Cart.com, were announced on February 15, 2026.

The players

Cart.com Inc.

A Houston-based e-commerce services company that was founded in 2020 and was valued at $1.6 billion in May 2025. Cart.com was awarded one of 24 new slots on the WEXMAC TITUS program.

U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command

The U.S. Navy command that is formally administering the WEXMAC TITUS program, which is expanding immigrant detention facilities across the country.

The Geo Group

A private prison giant that was named as one of the 24 new contractors on the WEXMAC TITUS program on February 15, 2026.

CoreCivic

A private prison company that was one of the original 96 awardees on the WEXMAC TITUS program in September 2025.

Gothams

An Austin-based disaster response company that was also one of the original 96 WEXMAC TITUS vendors announced in September 2025.

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What’s next

The judge overseeing the WEXMAC TITUS program will likely face increased scrutiny and pressure from civil liberties groups and immigrant advocates to slow the rapid expansion of detention facilities and examine the program's ties to private companies.

The takeaway

The involvement of e-commerce firm Cart.com in the WEXMAC TITUS program highlights the growing role of the private sector in the detention of immigrants, raising concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and human rights. This case underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability around government contracts that enable the expansion of the immigrant detention system.