ACLU Uncovers Plans for Expanded ICE Detention Centers
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has disclosed new information regarding the Trump administration’s initiative to enlarge Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities across ten states. This expansion involves private prison companies, which have experienced a surge in stock prices following President Donald Trump’s election, vying for administration of at least six newly proposed ICE facilities.
Details from FOIA Documents
Documents acquired by the ACLU through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request outline a massive increase in ICE’s detention capabilities. The ACLU reports a request for up to $45 billion to facilitate this expansion, which includes facilities known for past allegations of misconduct and abuse.
Included in the captured information are over 250 pages detailing aspects such as facility capacities, historical usage, local transport options, proximity to health services and courts, as well as access to legal assistance and consulates. The proposal submissions are primarily from the Geo Group, Inc. and CoreCivic for facilities currently unused by ICE.
Proposed Facilities for Expansion
The ACLU identified specific locations under consideration for expansion, including:
- McFarland Detention Center in McFarland, California
- California City Correctional Center in California City, California
- North Lake Correctional Center in Baldwin, Michigan
- Midwest Regional Reception Center in Leavenworth, Kansas
- Lea County Detention Center in Hobbs, New Mexico
- South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas
Additionally, GEO and CoreCivic have sought to renew contracts at existing ICE detention centers located in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington.
Concerns Over Increased Detention Facilities
Eunice Cho, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s National Prison Project, expressed alarm over the findings, stating, “This expansion is a disastrous waste of billions of taxpayer dollars that will only line the coffers of the private prison industry.”
Indeed, the financial gains for these private companies have been significant; the value of Geo Group’s shares has nearly doubled and CoreCivic’s stock has increased by 57% since Trump’s election.
Oversight and Accountability Issues
Unlike state and local prisons, which are subject to oversight, privately operated ICE facilities lack equivalent regulatory scrutiny. Although these centers are not prisons in a formal sense—operating under civil immigration law rather than criminal law—they have faced numerous allegations of mistreatment and abuse, including sexual abuse and instances resulting in death.
Throughout Trump’s presidency, agencies such as the ACLU consistently noted the soaring number of detainee deaths in ICE custody and several scandals that incited broad public outrage, including the controversial separation of families and sterilization practices at an ICE facility in Georgia.
The Ongoing Fight for Immigrant Rights
Despite promises from President Joe Biden to reform ICE practices, significant issues, including medical negligence, deaths, and lack of due process, have persisted during his administration. A 2024 report from the National Immigrant Justice Center highlights ongoing concerns regarding treatment within ICE facilities, echoing prior criticisms.
Reports of substandard conditions—such as denial of medical care and inadequate provisions—continue to surface, painting a grim picture of the current state of immigrant detention across the country.
