Key Takeaways
• ICE aims to expand detention capacity by 100,000 beds, reopening and expanding facilities especially in the Midwest.
• Private prison companies GEO Group and CoreCivic reported profit surges, with stock prices rising 41% and 29% respectively.
• Nearly 90% of ICE detainees are held in private centers amid bipartisan congressional support and growing concerns over facility conditions.
Corporate Profits Surge as Immigrant Prisons Expand in US Midwest with Bipartisan Support
A sweeping push to broaden immigrant detention in the United States 🇺🇸 has led to sharp growth in the number of people held in detention centers, especially across the Midwest. Behind this trend is the second Trump administration’s strong focus on immigration enforcement. As more facilities open and fill quickly, large private prison companies have seen their profits grow. This expansion has support from leaders in both major political parties, which has played a major role in the ongoing growth of immigrant prisons.
A Rapid Expansion of Detention Centers
Under the second term of President Trump, US immigration enforcement changed quickly and deeply. One main goal is to increase the number of beds for people waiting in custody to face deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the government agency in charge of detaining and removing people without legal immigration status, has outlined plans to increase its detention capacity by 100,000 beds. This means space for 100,000 more people at any given time.
To meet this goal, ICE has been reopening closed facilities and building new ones all over the country. This change is clear in the Midwest, which now stands out as a central area for new immigrant prisons. Facilities have reopened or expanded in states like Michigan and Kansas, two major Midwestern states where immigration detention was not always as common before.
One clear example is the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan. This center is being converted from a regular prison to house up to 1,800 ICE detainees, making it one of the largest immigrant prisons in ICE’s network. Other Midwestern states are following a similar path, with facilities being brought back into use and expanded on short notice.
The engine behind this rapid growth is the Trump administration’s aggressive approach toward deportation. President Trump has made it a top priority to remove 1 million people from the US each year. He has also instructed ICE to arrest between 1,200 to 1,500 people every day. To reach such high numbers, the government needs a vast network of detention centers to hold people facing removal from the US.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons gave a controversial comparison when describing the deportation process. He said the aim was to run the process “like [Amazon] Prime, but with human beings.” This comment highlights the speed and scale officials hope to reach when detaining and processing immigrants.
Corporate Profits Soar Alongside Detention Expansion
As the government detains more people, private companies running immigrant prisons have seen sharp increases in their profits, stock prices, and business prospects. Two large companies dominate the private prison industry: GEO Group and CoreCivic. GEO Group is valued at about $4 billion, while CoreCivic is valued at $2.2 billion.
When President Trump was re-elected, both companies’ stock prices jumped high. GEO Group’s stock went up by roughly 41%, while CoreCivic’s stock rose by nearly 29%. These surges came in direct response to the promise of longer contracts and more government money for detention operations.
Most of these companies’ business comes from ICE contracts. GEO Group earns 43% of its revenue from ICE, and CoreCivic earns 30%. These contracts are often very large and can last many years. For example, the GEO Group signed a 15-year contract worth $1 billion with the federal government to reopen Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
ICE is also looking for even more space and partnerships. Recently, the agency announced requests for proposals (official government invitations to offer services) for new detention facilities that could be worth as much as $45 billion over the next two years. This is a massive investment that could reshape private detention in the US.
With such huge sums at stake, private prison leaders have described the current moment as a “unique opportunity.” GEO Group’s Executive Chairman George Zoley said the company is working to possibly double the services it provides—mainly by opening new facilities or expanding existing ones.
Bipartisan Political Support Drives the Industry
One surprising aspect of historic and current immigrant prison growth is the support it gets from both major US political parties. While the Trump administration’s strict immigration enforcement stands out for its speed and scale, it has built on a foundation that was laid over many years by both Democratic and Republican leaders.
Reports, including those from WSWS, say that the “foundation of joint Democratic and Republican Party anti-immigrant policies” made today’s system possible. This means that even as parties disagree about many things, leaders from both sides often approve ICE’s large detention budgets. Both parties have voted in Congress to give ICE the money it needs for immigrant prisons.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that current policies are really a continuation of a broader trend. For example, even during previous administrations, the practice of involving private prison companies in immigration detention did not stop. Instead, it became a routine part of how the federal government handles deportations. Nearly 90% of all immigrants in ICE custody now spend time in privately run detention centers.
This trend goes back to the 1980s when the first private immigration prisons were made. Over the decades, the industry has grown as politicians from both sides backed larger detention budgets. The trend picked up speed under various presidents, making private immigrant prisons a central part of US immigration enforcement.
Worrying Conditions Inside Detention Centers
The fast growth of immigrant prisons has brought new problems and old ones have become even worse. Within just three weeks of President Trump’s second term, ICE centers were already at 109% capacity. That means detention centers were holding more people than they were built for, leading to overcrowding.
Many of the facilities that ICE is reopening have long records of abuse and safety problems. Immigration advocates and watchdog organizations worry that private prison companies, focused on making profits, are encouraged to cut costs wherever possible. They argue that this leads to cutting corners on services and safety for detained immigrants. Staff shortages, delayed meals, and dirty living conditions are major worries in many facilities.
There are also growing reports from people held in these centers. Detainees frequently say they get meals late or not at all, have limited access to medical care, and often live in poorly cleaned environments. Sometimes, there are complaints of physical or verbal abuse by staff or other detainees. These stories point to ongoing challenges in making sure people’s rights and safety are respected.
Many critics see the rapid expansion of immigrant detention as part of a much bigger plan. They say there is a “multi-layered immigration detention expansion plan” at work. If the Trump administration reaches its goal, the number of people held by ICE could triple. This means even more facilities being reopened—sometimes in rural, hard-to-reach areas—and the building of new “deportation hubs” at military bases. ICE officials are also increasing partnerships with local police to find and detain people faster and in larger numbers.
The $45 billion plan put forward by ICE is likely to make these problems worse, according to experts and advocates. More people in custody means more pressure on existing systems, less oversight, and an even stronger focus on quick deportations over careful, fair treatment.
Impact on Midwest Communities
The Midwest has become a new focus point in the battle over immigrant detention. Some Midwestern states—for example, Michigan and Kansas—are seeing immigrant prisons return or grow rapidly. This has real effects on local communities.
On one hand, local officials sometimes see new or reopened immigrant prisons as job providers or economic boosts, bringing government money and jobs to the area. On the other hand, many residents and community organizations worry about the effect on their towns’ reputations and the safety and treatment of people inside the facilities.
As Smithfield, Kansas and Baldwin, Michigan become new centers for ICE operations, these communities are adjusting to regular ICE buses and staff entering and leaving. Local schools, churches, and advocacy groups sometimes try to offer help to the families of detainees or raise questions about facility conditions. In many towns, the debate creates sharp divides over whether immigrant prisons are helping or hurting the local area.
Profit vs. Public Accountability
The rise of immigrant prisons run by for-profit corporations raises a big question about who watches over detention centers and how money shapes priorities. With companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic answering not only to government contracts but also shareholders and financial expectations, critics say there’s an incentive to keep costs as low as possible.
Advocates for detained immigrants worry that this drive for profit leads to less spending on food, medical care, mental health services, and facility upkeep. They argue that public oversight and transparency are weaker when private companies run detention centers, making it harder for the public to know what happens inside.
Government agencies, for their part, say that using private contractors allows for faster expansion to handle sudden increases in detainees. But this system has led to calls for greater oversight of spending, for stricter standards in facility conditions, and for better systems to hold companies responsible when things go wrong.
Some reports suggest that the close relationship between politicians, ICE, and private prison companies makes it harder to change course, even when problems are found. Long-term contracts and guaranteed minimum payments mean that companies can keep making money even when fewer people are detained, so the incentives remain strong.
Long-Term Implications
The current expansion of immigrant prisons, especially in the Midwest, is likely to affect US immigration policy far into the future. The large investments being made in new and reopened facilities mean that the infrastructure for mass detention is now in place—and ready to be used by any administration that chooses to continue or expand these policies.
Local communities in the Midwest, now more tied to ICE operations and the immigrant prison industry, may need to consider the long-term effects on their local economies, public services, and community values. For immigrants and families at risk of detention, the stakes remain very high. The ongoing debate over profits, public safety, and human rights is sure to continue as new information comes out and as more attention is paid to conditions inside these centers.
If you want to learn more about how ICE operates and the current guidelines for detention and removal, you can visit the official ICE Detention Management page. This page has important details about current policies, facility locations, and how ICE forms contracts with private prison operators.
Summary and Next Steps
The story of immigrant prisons in the US Midwest today is one of fast growth, high profits for private contractors, and deep debate about what role detention should play in immigration control. The second Trump administration has set ambitious new targets for deportations and arrests, quickly expanding both the physical footprint and the financial scope of the network holding immigrants before removal.
This growth has strong bipartisan roots, showing how leaders from both major parties have historically backed big detention budgets and the use of private prison companies. But alongside this expansion come serious concerns. Reports from inside facilities and advocacy groups raise alarms about conditions, safety, and oversight—problems that may only grow as the number of detainees rises.
Looking ahead, the Midwest is likely to stay at the center of this story. As facilities fill and contracts grow, local communities will play an important part in shaping public discussion and in holding both government and private companies accountable. The story of immigrant prisons in the US is far from over—and what happens next may shape immigration policy for years to come.
For further reliable information on immigrant detention—including rights, facility locations, and oversight resources—readers are encouraged to consult the official ICE Detention Management guidelines at: https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-management.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, keeping a close watch on both policy changes and on-the-ground impacts is essential for anyone concerned about the future of immigration in the US Midwest and beyond.
Learn Today
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → The U.S. federal agency responsible for detaining and removing immigrants without legal status.
Private Detention Center → A facility run by a for-profit company under government contract to hold immigrants awaiting deportation.
Bipartisan Support → Political backing or endorsement from both Democratic and Republican parties for a policy, law, or budget.
Detention Capacity → The number of people that government or private facilities are able to hold at any one time.
Deportation Hub → A central facility or location used to coordinate and process the removal of immigrants from the U.S.
This Article in a Nutshell
Immigrant detention in the US Midwest is booming, driven by aggressive Trump-era policies and bipartisan support. Private prison giants reap massive profits, while detention facilities reach overcapacity and face criticism for conditions. As ICE expands contracts, communities grapple with economic changes, and the debate over human rights intensifies nationwide each year.
— By VisaVerge.com
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