Democrats Urge Closure of Delaney Hall ICE Detention Center
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee recently organized an informal hearing in Newark, New Jersey, as they look into ICE detention facilities following a series of riots. Since they weren’t able to hold official hearings, they’re hosting these “shadow hearings,” led by Representative Bennie Thompson.
In related news, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the acquisition of two immigrant detention centers in California for $1.5 billion, a move confirmed by DHS officials. This purchase, completed earlier this month, involved the California City Detention Center, which houses 2,560 beds, and the Otay Mesa Detention Center with 1,994 beds. The sale was facilitated by CoreCivic, the private prison company based in Tennessee that previously owned the facilities.
DHS officials stated that funding from a spending bill approved by President Trump last summer was used to facilitate this purchase. This acquisition aims to enhance the government’s capacity to implement the Trump administration’s deportation policies. A spokesperson from DHS remarked, “The purchase was enabled by President Trump’s substantial bill aimed at expanding ICE’s detention capabilities to fulfill his promise of mass deportations.”
Looking at the broader picture, the federal government sees these facilities as essential resources for carrying out those immigration policies without depending on private prison companies. The spokesperson highlighted that California’s “sanctuary” law complicates matters for ICE, as state policies are increasingly resistant to using private prisons for detaining undocumented immigrants.
The DHS spokesperson noted, “In contrast to Florida or Oklahoma, ICE doesn’t have local partners to rely on for additional detention space in California.” This restriction, as they argue, results from ongoing legislative efforts from state politicians aiming to decrease reliance on private detention facilities.
CoreCivic anticipates a net income of about $1.1 billion before taxes from this sale. The company’s CEO expressed satisfaction with selling these critical facilities, stating that it showcases the strength of their real estate portfolio while enabling them to act as a long-term solution provider for government needs.
Furthermore, CoreCivic plans to continue managing these facilities under an existing agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), though some terms may change due to the ownership transfer. It’s worth noting that the agreements for facility operations are set to last until August 2027 for California City and December 2029 for Otay Mesa, with possible extensions available.
In California, there are currently eight ICE detention facilities, which collectively accommodate nearly 9,000 individuals. However, both the newly acquired California City and Otay Mesa facilities are facing lawsuits related to alleged mistreatment of detainees, claims that CoreCivic has disputed.
