Incoming President Donald Trump’s promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants has caused private prison stocks to rise significantly. During an earnings call, executives at GEO Group, one of the largest private prison companies, expressed confidence in the Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration enforcement, including additional funding from Congress. CEO Brian Robert Evans and Chairperson George Zoley referred to this period as an “unprecedented opportunity,” anticipating a large increase in demand for detention services.
Meanwhile, immigrant rights groups are bracing for the impact of mass deportations, a central aspect of Trump’s campaign. Silky Shah, Executive Director of the Detention Watch Network, emphasized the importance of taking immediate action to prevent such measures. She called on the Biden administration to begin reducing detention capacity by closing detention facilities now, warning that Trump’s upcoming policies could exacerbate ongoing issues with immigration enforcement.
Shah noted that the United States has a long history of deportations, dating back to the Hoover and Eisenhower administrations, as well as under recent presidents. Despite these efforts, the undocumented population has continued to grow. Shah suggested that the focus should shift from enforcement to creating legal pathways for immigration, and ensuring more humane treatment of migrants.
As Trump prepares to take office, the expansion of detention centers and policies that target immigrant communities remain key concerns for activists. Many are urging Biden to act swiftly to close detention centers and protect vulnerable migrants from the incoming administration’s plans for mass deportations.
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