Private Prison Companies Report Increased Revenue Amid Rising Immigration Detentions

Why it matters locally: Florida, with its large immigrant population and proximity to the Caribbean and Latin America, is a significant location for immigration detention facilities. Increased federal spending on private detention centers could impact the availability and operation of such facilities within the state.

Private prison companies have reported significant financial figures. One company, CoreCivic, stated its operations generated more than $1.4 billion in revenue. In addition to operational revenue, CoreCivic recorded an extra $1.6 billion from the sale of four of its facilities. The Department of Homeland Security acquired these properties from the company. This financial reporting emerges as immigration detention numbers have increased throughout the United States. The CoreCivic, Inc. California City Immigration Processing Center in California City, California, is one such facility. The center, located in the Kern County desert, awaits reopening as a federal immigrant detention facility under a contract with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).