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.
"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."
"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."
"The city’s lawsuit described detainees locked in showers as punishment."
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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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