Trump’s border enforcement gets a major boost as ICE partners with private detention company GEO Group to add thousands of beds for illegal immigrants awaiting deportation. The expansion comes as Border Czar Tom Homan warns that current facilities are reaching capacity. Trump knows the power of business, so he’s unleashing them on illegals and the cartels.
At a glance:
• ICE and GEO Group are collaborating to add 4,000 additional detention beds for illegal immigrants
• Two previously closed facilities will reopen, including North Lake in Michigan and Delaney Hall in New Jersey
• Karnes ICE Processing Center in Texas will be converted to meet ICE’s growing needs
• Border Czar Tom Homan has emphasized the urgent need for more detention capacity
• Local communities welcome the reopenings due to job creation opportunities
Major Expansion of Detention Capacity
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is significantly boosting its deportation capabilities through a new partnership with private prison operator GEO Group. The collaboration will add over 4,000 beds to house illegal immigrants awaiting removal from the United States.
Under the agreement, GEO Group will reopen two previously shuttered facilities and repurpose a third for ICE’s exclusive use. The North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, will provide 1,800 beds after being closed in 2022 when Biden administration policies canceled federal contracts with private prisons.
The Delaney Hall Facility in Newark, New Jersey, will also reopen specifically for federal immigration processing. Local residents have mixed reactions to the facility’s revival, though officials point to economic benefits.
Critical Support for Deportation Efforts
Border Czar Tom Homan has been vocal about the urgent need for increased detention capacity to facilitate mass deportations. In recent statements, Homan revealed that ICE is rapidly running out of bed space and needs to increase its capacity from the current 46,000 to approximately 65,000 beds.
The facilities will offer comprehensive services including security, maintenance, food services, recreational amenities, medical care, and legal counsel for detainees. These services are designed to maintain proper conditions while efficiently processing individuals for deportation.
GEO Group’s long-standing partnership with ICE has positioned the company as a major contractor in immigration enforcement. The company also maintains similar arrangements with governments in Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
The Karnes ICE Processing Center in Texas will be the third facility affected, transitioning to a mixed-use facility specifically designed to meet ICE’s evolving needs. This adaptation reflects the flexible approach needed to address current immigration challenges.
Economic Benefits and Enforcement Results
Local leaders in Lake County, Michigan are welcoming the reopening of the North Lake facility due to the economic opportunities it brings. The rural community has struggled with unemployment, and the detention center will create numerous jobs for area residents.
Homan has reported significant progress in border enforcement under the Trump administration’s renewed policies. He recently claimed that illegal border crossings have decreased by 97%, though this figure has been disputed by some immigration analysts.
The private prison industry has played an increasingly important role in U.S. immigration enforcement over recent decades. In fiscal year 2016, nearly three-quarters of immigration detainees were held in facilities operated by private prison companies.
Whatever it takes to get this done, Trump and Homan are ready to do it.
