In June, CoreCivic reached out to federal officials regarding the possibility of transforming its closed Leavenworth jail into an immigration detention center. The American Civil Liberties Union recently obtained documents that shed light on this inquiry.
The ACLU cautions that the facility could potentially serve as a central location for carrying out large-scale deportation initiatives during the upcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
In June, CoreCivic Inc., the largest private prison operator in the United States, responded to a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist in identifying potential detention facilities in the Midwest and other regions. As per the documents obtained by the ACLU, the company provided details about several of its facilities located throughout the country.
Previously known as the Leavenworth Detention Center, the Midwest Regional Reception Center serves as a pre-trial detention facility for individuals who have been charged with federal crimes in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and western Missouri. It specifically caters to detainees who have not yet been convicted of these crimes.
The Leavenworth Detention Center struggled with ongoing violence during its period as a pre-trial detention facility.
In a statement, Micah Kubic, the executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, expressed concern that the increased presence of ICE would have a detrimental impact on the residents of Kansas.
According to Kubic, the community of Leavenworth has repeatedly expressed their disapproval towards ICE and CoreCivic, emphasizing that they are not welcome to disrupt the peace with federal immigration enforcement. He further states that local and state leaders have the power to resist and not comply with their demands.
According to Ryan Gustin, director of public affairs for CoreCivic, the company’s immigration facilities are subject to thorough oversight and accountability. These facilities are closely monitored and audited by officials from ICE.
“We believe that our services play a crucial role in assisting the government in addressing challenges that would be difficult to overcome independently. Through our efforts, we are able to effectively manage humanitarian crises, enhance the quality of care for marginalized individuals, and efficiently meet various critical needs. It is evident that the American public is seeking solutions to these pressing issues.”
The ACLU filed a lawsuit against ICE, accusing them of violating the Freedom of Information Act. As a result of this lawsuit, the ACLU was able to obtain documentation of CoreCivic’s response to ICE’s request for potential detention space. Additionally, the ACLU obtained documentation of responses from owners of potential detention sites in Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and California.
Kansas Reflector also filed a request for information on the responses to ICE’s detention space request under the Freedom of Information Act. However, no documents have been received yet.
As January approaches and Trump prepares to take office, it is important to consider the recent revelations regarding his stance on immigration. Trump has made promises to swiftly deport immigrants, adding a sense of urgency to the situation.
According to a press release by the ACLU’s National Prison Project, Eunice Cho, a senior staff attorney, expressed concern that the actions of President Joe Biden’s administration are creating favorable conditions for the implementation of former President Trump’s harsh and inhumane mass deportation plans.
According to Cho, the incoming Trump administration is planning to expand ICE detention capacity in various states across the country in order to carry out mass deportations.
According to Gustin, CoreCivic does not take a stance either in favor or against legislation that determines the length of an individual’s detention.
Gustin emphasized the importance of treating every individual with respect and compassion, ensuring that they are provided with the necessary legal processes they deserve.
CoreCivic had been managing the Leavenworth Detention Center for years under a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service. However, due to an executive order signed by President Biden, which prohibited the renewal of U.S. Department of Justice contracts with private prisons, the facility was closed at the end of 2021.
In June 2020, the facility had the capacity to accommodate approximately 1,000 detainees.
The closure of the CoreCivic jail sparked ongoing speculation about the potential future use of the building, with some suggesting it could be transformed into an ICE detention center. However, shortly before the closure in 2021, ICE clarified that it was not actively seeking a contract with CoreCivic for the facility.
In the years that followed, Leavenworth County engaged in discussions with CoreCivic regarding the potential conversion of the facility to accommodate immigration detainees. The county would have acted as an intermediary in a contractual agreement between CoreCivic and ICE.
Commissioners made the decision to stop negotiations in September 2023 regarding the arrangement. There was a wide range of opposition to the proposal, with some expressing anti-immigration sentiments about releasing detainees into Leavenworth, while others, such as immigration and civil rights advocates, raised concerns about the facility’s history of violence and safety issues.
In Kansas Reflector in 2021 conducted an investigation revealing the troubling conditions at the Leavenworth Detention Center. The facility consistently suffered from understaffing, rampant drug use, and violence. A former detainee, Joshua Braddy, has filed a lawsuit against the center after being stabbed during his time there. Braddy’s lawsuit highlights at least 10 stabbings and two suicides that occurred within the facility in 2021.
During a sentencing hearing in the autumn of 2021, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson denounced the facility as a “hell hole.” In 2021, CoreCivic entered into a settlement with the widow of a former inmate who was tragically killed, resolving a wrongful death lawsuit.
In 2019, CoreCivic reached a settlement with over 500 detainees, compensating them $1.45 million. The settlement was made in response to the company’s illegal act of recording phone calls between the detainees and their defense attorneys without their consent. Furthermore, the recorded information was shared with prosecutors, violating the detainees’ rights.