Executives at CoreCivic, one of many nation’s largest non-public jail corporations, mentioned they anticipate the Trump administration’s new immigration insurance policies will result in “essentially the most important progress” within the firm’s historical past over the following a number of years.
“I’ve labored at CoreCivic for 32 years, and that is actually one of the vital thrilling durations of my profession,” CEO Damon Hininger mentioned Tuesday on the corporate’s earnings name. “We anticipate important progress alternatives, maybe essentially the most important progress in our firm’s historical past over the following a number of years.”
“The change in presidential administration on Jan. 20 has ushered in important coverage and legislative modifications that immediately influence our enterprise,” Hininger mentioned on the general public name, which comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement has elevated its apprehensions of individuals alleged to be within the nation illegally.
Hininger advised shareholders that the corporate is taking proactive steps to arrange amenities and beds in anticipation of potential new contracts with ICE.
CoreCivic executives on the decision mentioned they presently communicate virtually “hourly” with ICE officers and with members of the administration, and have “energetic excursions occurring” at their amenities.
“We have a proposal in entrance of ICE for 28,000 beds,” one government mentioned, including that the supply may lead to greater than a billion {dollars} in income for the corporate.
The 28,000 beds supplied to ICE comes from vacant amenities that aren’t presently activated, in addition to from availability in current amenities and from the South Texas Household Residential Heart, the nation’s largest migrant detention middle that was closed in 2024, executives mentioned.
A view of the CoreCivic Otay Mesa Detention Heart in San Diego, on Feb. 07, 2025.
Carlos Moreno/Anadolu through Getty Pictures
ICE officers didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from ABC Information.
In response to questions concerning the administration’s determination to make use of Guantanamo Bay and a jail in El Salvador to carry migrant detainees, executives for CoreCivic mentioned they consider their amenities are “superior” to the alternate options in relation to price and logistics.
“We have an actual benefit on the associated fee facet, particularly on this atmosphere. We have DOGE on the market taking a look at the very best worth for the federal government,” Hininger mentioned, referencing Elon Musk’s new Division of Authorities Effectivity.
The CoreCivic CEO additionally mentioned he believes the corporate’s amenities are much less prone to face litigation, and mentioned they’re “extra humane than the opposite alternate options.”
“We’re feeling very inspired by the conversations with ICE to this point,” Hininger mentioned. “We have numerous exercise occurring within the group, numerous alternatives, so it is a very thrilling time inside the firm.”