The US immigration landscape has undergone a significant shift under President Donald Trump’s administration, with a surge in migrant raids and deportations. Trump’s promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history has sparked controversy, but it’s also created a boom for private detention providers. According to ICE figures, a record 60,000 people were in detention in June, with the vast majority having no conviction despite Trump’s campaign promises to target hardened criminals.
More than 80% of detainees are housed in facilities run by the private sector, such as CoreCivic and GEO Group. These companies are experiencing unprecedented demand, with CoreCivic’s executive director, Damon Hininger, stating that “never in our 42-year company history have we had so much activity and demand for our services as we are seeing right now.” The number of detention centers has ballooned from 107 to around 200 since Trump took office. Washington’s directive to triple daily arrests and allocate $45 billion for new detention centers has further fueled the boom.
The private detention sector’s growth has been met with criticism from Democratic politicians, who argue that private prison companies are profiting from human suffering. Congresswoman Norma Torres condemned the practice, saying, “Private prison companies are profiting from human suffering, and Republicans are allowing them to get away with it.” Torres was refused permission to visit a detention center in Adelanto, California, run by GEO Group, citing a lack of notice. She denounced the refusal, stating it was “a desperate attempt to hide the abuse happening behind these walls.” Allegations of mistreatment, including violent arrests, denied medical care, and isolation, have been reported.
Despite these allegations, both GEO and ICE have denied mistreatment claims. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, said, “Claims there is overcrowding or subprime conditions in ICE facilities are categorically FALSE.” However, relatives of detainees and advocates like Kristen Hunsberger, a staff attorney at the Law Centre for Immigrant Advocates, tell a different story. Hunsberger shared a client’s experience of waiting six to seven hours for clean water, highlighting concerns about sanitary conditions and human rights. Alejandra Morales, an American citizen, recounted her undocumented husband’s detention experience, where he was denied basic hygiene and forced to sleep on the floor with others.
The economic impact of the detention centers is viewed positively by some local residents, like Marquette Hawkins, mayor of California City. The city is set to host a sprawling detention center operated by CoreCivic, which promises to generate around 500 jobs and $2 million in tax revenue. Hawkins noted that “any revenue source that is going to assist the town in rebuilding itself, rebranding itself, is going to be seen as a plus.” However, critics argue that the human cost outweighs the economic benefits, and the sector’s growth raises questions about the ethics of profiting from detention.
