Readout of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement meeting with CoreCivic

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief of Staff Michael Lumpkin met with representatives from CoreCivic Dec. 17 to discuss operations and the agency’s detained population’s needs. ICE works closely with private detention contractors, including CoreCivic, to manage its detained docket and provide housing for those in its custody.

ICE detention is not punitive. People who spend time in the agency’s custody are there because they pose public safety and national security threats or they’re subject to immigration detainers, or they’re under detention orders from Department of Justice immigration judges. ICE also maintains those whose detention is mandated by law. Detention exists to further noncitizens’ immigration processes and facilitate removal when appropriate.

ICE officials regularly engage with private detention contractors, government officials and partner law enforcement agencies. Officials also meet with private-sector entities, faith-based and activist organizations, and colleges and universities to ensure its future decisions are data-driven, fact-based, humane and effective.