Midwest Boom & Bust

The article details how the Biden administration, despite campaign promises to end the use of private prisons, is deeply entwined with the private prison industry through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracts. A significant portion of ICE detainees are housed in privately-run facilities, particularly those operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic. The administration has renewed and expanded contracts, effectively maintaining the reliance on private prison companies for immigration detention. The author argues that Biden's stated efforts to reduce private prison usage are undermined by these ICE contracts, as the administration finds ways to reclassify contracts in order to skirt a 2021 executive order, which purported to phase out private prisons. The GEO Group, in particular, has benefited substantially, receiving contracts for facilities across the country. These facilities, including those with histories of serious abuses, continue to house large numbers of immigrants. The article criticizes the administration's justification for this continuation, citing the need for detention capacity. The contracts often include guaranteed minimum payments, ensuring the companies profit even if the facilities are not fully occupied. The author concludes that the administration's actions contradict its stated policies and perpetuate the exploitation and mistreatment of immigrants within the for-profit prison system. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/17/bddk-m17.html