GEO Group CEO George Zoley calls ICE detention lawsuits unconstitutional, urges federal purchase of facilities

On a first‑quarter 2026 earnings call, GEO Group chief executive George Zoley described litigation over conditions in ICE detention centers as “unprecedented” and “fundamentally unconstitutional.” He cited disputes over medical care, food, and cleanliness at the company’s 23 immigration facilities, which house about 21,000 detainees – roughly one‑third of ICE’s total custody.

Zoley suggested that the federal government consider purchasing roughly ten privately‑owned, turnkey ICE processing centers. He argued that federal ownership would provide stronger protection under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and limit state‑level interference, effectively reducing “unwarranted litigation.” The discussion came as the Trump administration paused a plan to convert warehouses into detention sites and DHS reviewed options for buying existing facilities.

The GEO Group reported first‑quarter revenue of $705.2 million, a 17% increase from the prior year, while still carrying more than $1 billion in debt. Earlier in 2026, 18 deaths were recorded in ICE custody, half of which occurred in GEO or CoreCivic‑run facilities. Zoley and former CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger have each contributed over $1 million to Republican political committees.