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| US considers ending use of private immigration detention facilities | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Obama administration could end its use of private immigration detention centres, the US homeland security secretary, Jeh Johnson, said on Monday. | The Obama administration could end its use of private immigration detention centres, the US homeland security secretary, Jeh Johnson, said on Monday. |
| The announcement follows a landmark decision by the US Department of Justice to phase out private prisons, after a stinging independent review found they were drastically less safe than publicly operated centres. The move, made earlier in August, led to intense pressure on the homeland security department to conduct a similar review, as it relies more heavily on the use of privatised facilities. | The announcement follows a landmark decision by the US Department of Justice to phase out private prisons, after a stinging independent review found they were drastically less safe than publicly operated centres. The move, made earlier in August, led to intense pressure on the homeland security department to conduct a similar review, as it relies more heavily on the use of privatised facilities. |
| Johnson said his department’s advisory council has been tasked to examine whether “immigration detention operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should move in the same direction” as the justice department. The panel will have until the end of November to make recommendations, and will consider “all factors … including fiscal considerations” related to ICE’s use of private centres. | Johnson said his department’s advisory council has been tasked to examine whether “immigration detention operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should move in the same direction” as the justice department. The panel will have until the end of November to make recommendations, and will consider “all factors … including fiscal considerations” related to ICE’s use of private centres. |
| The agency’s use of private detention centres has long been criticised by human rights advocates. An investigation published by Human Rights Watch in July found evidence of substandard medical care at a number of facilities, while protests at privately operated family detention centres in Texas have become commonplace. | The agency’s use of private detention centres has long been criticised by human rights advocates. An investigation published by Human Rights Watch in July found evidence of substandard medical care at a number of facilities, while protests at privately operated family detention centres in Texas have become commonplace. |
| The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detains a total of 33,676 people, as of the beginning of August, with an overwhelming 24,567 (or 72%) of these held in the country’s 46 private detention facilities. Conversely, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons operates only 13 private prisons, which hold around 11% of the federal prison population. The federal prison population has also declined in recent years, while the numbers of those detained in ICE facilities has increased. | The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detains a total of 33,676 people, as of the beginning of August, with an overwhelming 24,567 (or 72%) of these held in the country’s 46 private detention facilities. Conversely, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons operates only 13 private prisons, which hold around 11% of the federal prison population. The federal prison population has also declined in recent years, while the numbers of those detained in ICE facilities has increased. |
| Grace Meng, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, argued the DHS review should occur in a “different context” from the DoJ decision. | Grace Meng, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, argued the DHS review should occur in a “different context” from the DoJ decision. |
| “We’re talking about a civil detention system, people who are not being held under a criminal charge, asylum seekers living with children, many people who are not public safety threats,” Meng said. | “We’re talking about a civil detention system, people who are not being held under a criminal charge, asylum seekers living with children, many people who are not public safety threats,” Meng said. |
| “The fact that this system grew so much and became so reliant on private prison companies, means we should look at it even more skeptically than we looked at the federal prison system. | “The fact that this system grew so much and became so reliant on private prison companies, means we should look at it even more skeptically than we looked at the federal prison system. |
| “I think the real question is, are they [DHS] prepared to really reduce the population to the point that they can hold facilities accountable when they fail to meet their standards?” | “I think the real question is, are they [DHS] prepared to really reduce the population to the point that they can hold facilities accountable when they fail to meet their standards?” |
| The announcement was met with volatility on the stock market as shares in some of America’s largest private prison companies slumped. | The announcement was met with volatility on the stock market as shares in some of America’s largest private prison companies slumped. |
| Stock in Corrections Corp of America, which operates a family detention centre in Texas, slid 9.4% following Monday’s announcement. The company has earned $689m from ICE contracts since 2008, according to Reuters. | Stock in Corrections Corp of America, which operates a family detention centre in Texas, slid 9.4% following Monday’s announcement. The company has earned $689m from ICE contracts since 2008, according to Reuters. |
| Shares in GEO Group, another of the country’s largest security companies, fell by 6%. The company has earned $1.18bn from ICE contracts in the same period, according to Reuters, about 60% of its total revenue from federal contracts. | Shares in GEO Group, another of the country’s largest security companies, fell by 6%. The company has earned $1.18bn from ICE contracts in the same period, according to Reuters, about 60% of its total revenue from federal contracts. |
| Despite the bad reaction on the markets, the company said in a statement that it welcomed the DHS review. | Despite the bad reaction on the markets, the company said in a statement that it welcomed the DHS review. |
| “GEO’s facilities under contract with ICE are highly rated and provide high-quality, cost-effective services in safe, secure, and humane residential environments pursuant to strict contractual requirements and the federal government’s national standards.” | “GEO’s facilities under contract with ICE are highly rated and provide high-quality, cost-effective services in safe, secure, and humane residential environments pursuant to strict contractual requirements and the federal government’s national standards.” |