Democrats Urge ICE to End Contracts with Private Detention Centers Amid Abuse Allegations.
Democrats are calling for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to sever ties with GEO Group, the private company that operates two migrant detention centers in California. This push follows reports from Newsweek detailing serious allegations of abuse at these facilities.
On October 8, eight members of Congress sent a letter to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding the termination of contracts for the Golden State Annex and Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Kern County. The lawmakers expressed concern over “disturbing” abuse claims and argued that detainees should be released rather than simply transferred to other facilities.
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren criticized GEO Group for profiting from taxpayer money while facing ongoing allegations of mistreatment. She called for a comprehensive review of all detention facilities, highlighting the need for accountability.
The letter from lawmakers reiterated their request for the DHS to terminate GEO’s contracts, referencing previous allegations of abuse confirmed by federal and state reports. They emphasized the importance of keeping detainees connected to their support networks rather than moving them further away.
In response, a GEO Group spokesperson directed inquiries to ICE. An ICE spokesperson explained that the agency must use its limited resources to detain individuals deemed threats to public safety or national security while they await immigration proceedings.
Recent months have seen a series of hunger strikes at ICE facilities, including labor strikes by detainees at the Golden State Annex and Mesa Verde. Strikes have been met with alleged retaliation, including solitary confinement and reduced access to communication.
Lofgren raised concerns about the financial burdens of high-security measures in facilities primarily housing non-violent individuals. She questioned the justification for such expenses when more humane alternatives could save taxpayer money.
As the 2023 fiscal year budget includes significant funding for ICE detention beds, Lofgren argued that profit-driven motives lead to cost-cutting at the expense of humane treatment. She emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform, advocating for the humane treatment of all detainees and the necessity of careful planning if contracts with for-profit facilities are terminated.
With immigration emerging as a key issue in the upcoming U.S. elections, recent polling indicates that former President Donald Trump is viewed as more trustworthy than Vice President Kamala Harris on this topic. Harris has promised to revive a bipartisan border security bill that previously stalled.
Trump’s campaign has pledged to initiate a large-scale deportation effort if he returns to office, stating plans to carry out “the largest mass deportation in the history of our country.”
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