Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently increased its capacity in Southern Nevada, along with three other states, for individuals in the agency’s custody. This expansion was made possible through contract modifications with CoreCivic, a company that operates private prisons and detention centers in the U.S. The amended agreements allow for up to 1,036 beds to be used by ICE detainees across four CoreCivic facilities in Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
CoreCivic CEO, Damon Hininger, stated that the company is prepared to meet the growing needs of government partners, particularly the federal government, as they anticipate increased demand for detention capacity. This agreement comes as President Trump’s administration works towards fulfilling his campaign promise of mass deportations.
Despite the increase in capacity, details on the terms or distribution of the new beds were not disclosed. ICE emphasized the need for additional detention capacity due to the significant number of arrests of criminal aliens.
The Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump is part of the CoreCivic facilities where ICE detainees will be held. The facility currently houses around 800 inmates under an intergovernmental contract with the U.S. Marshals Service. A recent inspection by ICE found the facility compliant with administrative standards.
Meanwhile, civil liberties groups like the ACLU have expressed concerns about the expansion of immigration detention facilities across the country, including in Nevada. While public opinion on Trump’s immigration policies remains divided, CoreCivic assured that they are committed to providing humane treatment to detainees as they go through the legal process.ICE’s enforcement strategy in Southern Nevada has been met with mixed reactions. The Metropolitan Police Department limits collaboration with ICE at the Clark County Detention Center, while Henderson police hold ICE detainees at their jail. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is the only jurisdiction in Nevada with a formal agreement with ICE.
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