CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly three months before the Department of Homeland Security surged U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents to Charlotte, the federal agency awarded a $2.25 million no-bid contract to Hendrick Motorsports, LLC , according to federal records.

The contract , signed in August, allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , CBP's counterpart, to buy 25 new sports utility vehicles to deploy "to the streets immediately to provide a visible law enforcement presence, support public safety operations , and reinforce recruitment efforts."

According to a federal document obtained by WCNC Charlotte, ICE cited "Unusual and compelling urgency" as its reason for not bidding out the contract. The document noted the purchases would be "in anticipation of surge staffing requirements"

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