ICE ordering fleet of 20 armoured vehicles from Brampton-based firm

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has earmarked millions of dollars for a bulk order for 20 armoured vehicles from Brampton-based defence manufacturer Roshel that are built to resist bullets and bomb blasts.

U.S. government procurement records show the department laying out plans for an order worth the equivalent of about C$10 million for 20 Senator vehicles — a type of armoured tactical vehicle used by Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The justification for the sole-source order was published in a partially redacted document on a U.S. federal procurement website on Nov. 26, and the site states that a contract was awarded on Nov. 28.

The procurement document says only Roshel, which is headquartered in Brampton, Ont., meets the department’s requirements and can complete the order within 30 days.

The department, commonly known as ICE, is awash in controversy and allegations of human rights abuses as U.S. President Donald Trump pursues a campaign to expel vast numbers of immigrants residing in the country illegally.

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The order comes despite Trump’s “America-first” trade policy and as he pursues a protracted trade war to poach jobs and plants from the Canadian steel, manufacturing and automotive sectors.

One of the largest manufacturers of smart armoured vehicles in North America, Roshel has a $65-million manufacturing plant in Brampton. The compant had a contract with Israel to provide Senator transport vehicles that dates to before the Israel-Gaza war, but the shipment of those vehicles has been delayed since the outbreak of the conflict.

Canada froze all new arms export permits to Israel dating back to Jan. 8. to limit any exports that could be used directly in the conflict, but reports indicate Roshel’s shipment of vehicles were to be used for domestic police operations.

Roshel says its Senator APC can be used as armoured personnel carriers, mobile command and control units, law enforcement vehicles and medical evacuation vehicles. The company has also sold vehicles to NASA, police forces, nuclear authorities and financial institutions.

The company has also sent military vehicles to Ukraine for use against the invading Russian forces and hired refugees fleeing the conflict to work in its 140,000-square-foot Brampton facility.

– With files from INsauga.com