ICE targets Plan B after backlash to mega-jails plan

"“The broader vision is to develop a nationwide network that consolidates populations in relatively larger facilities that allows them to be able to service the needs of the entire country,” CoreCivic CEO Patrick Swindle said on an investors call on Thursday."

"“I can respectfully acknowledge that we have been in discussions with ICE regarding the potential sale of multiple facilities subject to mutual agreement on price and our continued management of those facilities under long term support services contracts,” Geo Group chairman and CEO George Zoley said."

"Zoley said the talks are fluid but the sales could come in its second or third quarter of this year. CoreCivic leases roughly one-quarter of ICE's immigrant detention beds to the agency and is in talks to sell some of its “turnkey” facilities to the agency. GeoGroup, one of ICE's largest vendors, is also in talks to sell ICE some of its detention space, executives said on an earnings call on Wednesday."

"Two warehouses were pressing forward to renovate and open to detainees, but an environmental policy focused lawsuit is halting work in Hagerstown, Maryland. A potential multi-thousand-bed warehouse facility in Surprise, Arizona had a “stop work order” issued on its renovation project just days before also drawing litigation from the state government. There have also been talks about selling some of these already-purchased warehouses, one source familiar with the discussions said."

CoreCivic and Geo Group are in discussions with ICE about selling detention facilities and providing long-term support services. CoreCivic leases about one-quarter of ICE’s immigrant detention beds and is considering sales of “turnkey” facilities. Geo Group hosts roughly 25,000 ICE beds and is also exploring sales of detention space, with potential timing in the second or third quarter. The broader plan aims to consolidate populations in larger facilities nationwide. Several warehouses already purchased for large-scale detention are not functioning. Renovation efforts have been halted by environmental policy-focused litigation in Hagerstown, Maryland, and by a stop-work order and state government litigation in Surprise, Arizona. Some already-purchased warehouses may also be sold.

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