ICE Converts Former California Prison into State’s Largest Migrant Detention Center

In a controversial move that reflects the growing expansion of immigration enforcement infrastructure, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has teamed up with private prison corporation CoreCivic to convert a former state prison in California City into what is now the largest migrant detention facility in the state.

The newly repurposed facility, capable of housing 2,560 detainees, comes with an initial funding package of $10 million, with the potential for that amount to rise to $31.2 million over the course of six months starting in April. The project is part of ICE’s broader national strategy to dramatically increase detention capacity—from the current 41,500 beds to a staggering 100,000.

Critics argue the move signals a troubling investment in mass detention over immigration reform, while supporters claim it addresses overcrowding and logistical challenges within the current system. As this expansion unfolds, communities, human rights advocates, and watchdog groups are paying close attention to the implications of this growing partnership between federal agencies and private prison operators.

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