OKPOLICY.ORG
This article was co-authored by Gabriela Ramirez-Perez, Immigration Policy Analyst and Polina Rozhkova, Data Analyst.
In the current administration, more and more immigrants are being funneled to detention centers or being held in other forms of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Oklahoma and other states could see more private detention facilities open. The CEO of CoreCivic, one of the nation’s largest private corrections companies, has expressed the desire to reopen some vacant facilities that were used as private prisons in Oklahoma.
There are three active ICE detention centers in Oklahoma:
- Cimarron Correctional Facility in Cushing (Payne County) operated by CoreCivic.
- David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center in Tulsa (Tulsa County) operated by the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department
- Kay County Detention Center in Newkirk (Kay County) operated by the Kay County Sheriff’s Department
And two potential facilities could reopen soon:
- North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre (Beckham County)
- Diamondback Correction Center in Watonga (Blaine County)
As federal officials are looking for additional space to detain people, CoreCivic, GEO Group, and other private contractors are looking to profit from this effort by repurposing idle facilities. Here are six reasons why privately operated immigration detention facilities are a bad move for Oklahoma:
1. We left private prisons behind for a reason
Oklahomans have seen firsthand the problems that come with private prisons, which have a dangerous history of overcrowding, violence, and public health issues. That’s why state officials have been phasing out contracts with CoreCivic and GEO Group and agreed this spring to purchase the notorious Lawton Correctional Center, bringing it under state control. Reopening these idle facilities as immigrant detention centers would reverse that progress just to help out-of-state corporations turn a profit for their shareholders.
2. Private prisons are bad for communities and don’t bring lasting jobs or economic growth
Private detention centers often promise jobs and economic boosts, but those benefits are short-lived. These corporations hinder economic growth and take resources from local residents. When these facilities inevitably close, due to challenges with recruiting and retaining staff, the town is left to pick up the pieces. Many rural communities have learned the hard way that when these facilities close, they’re left with empty buildings, lost jobs, and broken promises.
3. Detention is not required for most immigration cases
Most immigrants do not need to be detained. Three in 4 people booked into ICE custody this year had no criminal conviction other than a traffic or immigration-related offense. Less than 1 in 10 of the people detained were convicted of a serious crime like assault, murder, or robbery. Studies show that an overwhelming majority of nondetained immigrants consistently show up for court without being locked up. Yet more and more people are being funneled into detention centers-often for nothing more than traffic or immigration offenses. Currently, 65 percent of people in Oklahoma’s ICE detention facilities are considered non-criminal holds (“Non-Crim”), according to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Data (as of 6/23/25).
4. Private prisons and detention centers are dangerous
Private prison operators in Oklahoma, such as CoreCivic and GEO Group, have a long record of operating facilities where neglect and abuse occur regularly. Reports from immigration detention include festering human waste, limited access to showers and clean water (all of which CoreCivic denies), and a history of medical neglect and preventable deaths. No person deserves to live in these conditions, and no Oklahoma community should be asked to host that kind of harm.
5. Private prison operators are focused on profit, not public safety
CoreCivic and other private prison operators aren’t in the business of keeping people safe. It’s in the business of keeping beds full. The company even referred to mass deportation policies as a “catalyst” for growth. And because these spaces are private property, the companies managing these facilities can prevent local authorities from entering to inquire about health and safety concerns.
6. Our communities deserve better than what CoreCivic and other private corrections companies are offering
Oklahomans deserve real investments in jobs, education, and community — not detention centers that profit off people’s suffering. As CoreCivic eyes towns like Sayre and Watonga for expansion, now is the time to say: not in our name, and not in our communities.
Bottom line: Reopening private prisons for immigrant detention is a bad deal — for immigrants, for communities, and for our future. Let’s not repeat past mistakes.
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We must act now before it’s too late to speak out in opposition of reopening private detention centers in Oklahoma. Here are three things you can do to take action:
- Contact your city council and mayor to speak out against CoreCivic and GEO Group returning to Oklahoma. Tell them you don’t want them in your community or your backyard.
- Learn when/where the city councils in Sayre and Watonga will meet and offer your input on this matter. City council meetings encourage public feedback and this can be written and in person.
- The Oklahoma Board of Corrections are aware of the egregious human rights violations that take place in private prisons. Urge them to reject efforts to reopen shutdown facilities.
