DHS Acquires Two Detention Facilities for $1.5 Billion

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acquired two privately-operated detention facilities from CoreCivic for approximately $1.5 billion. The facilities, located in Southern California, will continue to be operated by CoreCivic employees, allowing the company to generate income from them post-sale. California law mandates oversight of privately held detention centers by local and state authorities, but the federal ownership may complicate such oversight. Civil rights attorney Alexa Van Brunt expressed concerns that this move could be an attempt to evade accountability. DHS stated that the acquisition is necessary for maintaining detention capacity in California amid legislative efforts to limit private prisons. The purchase could also shield the facilities from legal challenges related to alleged abuses. The ongoing class-action lawsuit against Otay Mesa Detention Center highlights concerns over forced labor practices. State Senator María Elena Durazo criticized the federal government's actions as an attempt to bypass health and safety protections. CoreCivic representatives did not comment on the implications of federal ownership for oversight. The acquisition is part of a broader trend of increasing federal control over detention facilities, which advocates argue could lead to worsening conditions for detainees.