The Profit of Detention and the Growth of the Immigrant Detention Industry

The Washington Post reports on investors seeking to profit off of the growth of immigrant detention.  In Farmville, Virginia, construction is proceeding on “what could become the largest immigration detention facility in the mid-Atlantic region, a $21 million project fueled by the aggressive policies some Virginia localities have adopted toward identifying illegal immigrants and handing them over to the federal government.

The 1,040-bed facility . . . is a private venture aimed at capitalizing on the massive influx of detainees into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement system over the past year. A small group of Richmond investors looks to reap millions of dollars in profit . . . .”

There are many issues that could be discussed at length here.  To mention three:  Should the U.S. government be contracting out public services to private agencies?  Shouldn’t the past problems in inmmigrant detention by private entities make the U.S. government cautious about expanding the outsourcing?  How do we ensure that detainees’ constitutional and basic human rights are not violated?

KJ