US Department of Homeland Security purchases two California immigration detention centers from CoreCivic

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security acquired two immigration detention facilities in Southern California from private‑prison operator CoreCivic for a total of $1.5 billion. The Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County was bought for $739.2 million and the California City Detention Facility in Kern County for $732.6 million. CoreCivic will continue to manage day‑to‑day operations under existing ICE contracts that run through 2027 for California City and 2029 for Otay Mesa, a deal enabled by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that expands federal detention capacity.

The purchase follows California legislation that phases out privately owned detention centers and limits state contracts with for‑profit prison operators. In California City, the facility’s licensing and site‑plan approvals sparked intense public opposition. The Dignity Not Detention Coalition appealed the February approvals, leading to heated city meetings, a 2‑1 vote to deny the appeal, and a separate 3‑1 vote to continue hearings. Activists and detainees protested conditions such as overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and water shortages, while the city manager has ten days to issue a final decision on the appeal.