ICE Reopens Leavenworth Prison Amid Controversy Over No-Bid Contracts
ICE's agreement with CoreCivic to reopen a Leavenworth prison has sparked legal challenges and concerns over non-competitive contracting practices.
Overview
- ICE has signed a deal with CoreCivic to reopen a 1,033-bed prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, amid rising detention bed demands.
- The city of Leavenworth has filed a lawsuit against CoreCivic for attempting to reopen the prison without local approval.
- ICE is utilizing no-bid contracts to increase detention capacity in response to a declared national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Concerns have been raised about the implications of non-competitive contracts, which primarily benefit large firms like CoreCivic.
- City officials express skepticism regarding the reopening, linking it to broader issues of mass deportations and local governance.
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Analysis
Emphasizes ICE's use of no-bid contracts with CoreCivic to increase detention capacity.
ICE and the Trump administration have signed a deal with CoreCivic Corp. to reopen a 1,033-bed prison in Leavenworth.
Leavenworth filed a lawsuit against CoreCivic for attempting to reopen without city officials' approval.
ICE justified authorizing nine five-year contracts for 10,312 beds without competition by declaring a national emergency at the U.S. border with Mexico.
El gobierno federal ha firmado un acuerdo con CoreCivic Corp. para reabrir una prisión de 1.033 camas en Leavenworth.
El ICE ha adquirido camas para detenidos a través de contratos sin licitación ni competencia.
El ICE declaró una emergencia nacional en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México.
CoreCivic stopped housing detainees awaiting trial at their Leavenworth facility in late 2021 after a judge halted the process of housing migrants in a closed center in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Leavenworth city officials are skeptical and have filed a lawsuit against CoreCivic for attempting to reopen its facility without a special use permit.
Articles (3)
Center (3)
"…El ICE ha citado una “urgencia apremiante” para conseguir miles de camas de detención adicionales, y sus esfuerzos han hecho que las estimaciones de ganancias se disparen para empresas privadas con conexiones políticas."
Associated Press·15d·"…The push to reopen them has been met with resistance in unexpected places like Leavenworth, Kansas, a town whose name alone evokes a short hand for serving hard time."
Associated Press·16d·"…The city’s lawsuit described detainees locked in showers as punishment."
Associated Press·16d·FAQ
The City of Leavenworth sued CoreCivic for attempting to reopen the facility without a permit, violating city ordinances. This action followed a unanimous resolution requiring CoreCivic to undergo a special use permit process.
Using no-bid contracts primarily benefits large firms like CoreCivic, raising concerns about non-competitive practices and their potential to increase costs and limit accountability.
Despite legal challenges, CoreCivic plans to reopen the facility to hold up to 1,000 migrants as part of a federal push to expand immigration detention capacity.
The facility experienced chronic understaffing, mismanagement, preventable overdoses, suicides, stabbings, medical neglect, and overcrowding.
History
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