OTTAWA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that the armored vehicles it is acquiring from Canadian defense company Roshel comply with Buy American provisions. The agency stated on Thursday that the production of the Roshel Senator emergency response vehicle takes place in the United States.

ICE's media relations team provided this information in an email but did not identify a spokesperson for further comment. The agency's response came days after inquiries were made regarding the procurement. According to the email, the armored vehicle qualifies as a "certified domestic end-product" intended to support ICE's law enforcement operations, in line with the Buy American Act's requirements concerning the manufacture and origin of component parts.

While ICE did not disclose specific details about the vehicle's manufacturing location, Roshel operates several plants in Ontario and opened a facility in Michigan in 2024. The company has indicated that U.S. defense and law enforcement agencies represent a significant portion of its orders.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that Ottawa had not been contacted about any permits related to this transaction. Roshel has not responded to multiple requests for comment and has not issued any public statements regarding the contract.

In an interview, Roshel CEO Roman Shimanov expressed frustration over media coverage, questioning why there is little attention on companies that supply less controversial products to the U.S. government.

ICE is moving forward with a sole-source contract for 20 armored vehicles from Roshel, valued at approximately C$10 million. This procurement has faced backlash from anti-arms advocates and Canadian politicians due to ICE's history of alleged human rights violations.

NDP MP Jenny Kwan voiced her concerns about the contract, stating, "This contract raises serious questions about Canada's role and responsibility when it comes to our technology and products being deployed abroad." Kwan is advocating for legislation to enhance oversight of military hardware exports, although her party holds a minority position in Parliament.

Roshel has previously supplied hundreds of armored vehicles to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, which began in 2022. The tactical vehicles are designed to withstand bullets and bomb blasts. A U.S. federal procurement website confirmed that the contract for these vehicles was awarded on November 28.

This report was first published on December 4, 2025.