Record Revenue Surge for ICE Detention Contractors Amid Expansion Plans

In 2025, two major contractors for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—GEO Group and CoreCivic—reported record revenues, driven by the expansion of immigrant detention facilities across the United States. This growth is linked to increased apprehensions of immigrants under the Trump Administration's policies and a significant budget allocation from Congress.

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GEO Group, which operates 19 ICE facilities, reported total revenues of $2.6 billion in 2025, marking a 6% increase from $2.43 billion in 2024. CoreCivic, managing at least ten ICE detention centers, saw a 13% rise in revenue, reaching $2.2 billion, up from $1.96 billion the previous year. Both companies view the expansion of their facilities as a "significant growth opportunity," with plans to reactivate previously closed facilities to accommodate rising detention demands.

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ICE's strategy includes a $45 billion budget approved by Congress aimed at expanding immigrant detention capabilities, particularly in states like California and Texas. This plan involves constructing new large-scale detention centers and converting warehouses into detention facilities, despite local community protests. GEO Group's incoming CEO, George Zoley, acknowledged the challenges of warehouse renovations, stating, “We’ve only had one experience in renovating a warehouse... it’s more complicated than you may think.”

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As of now, ICE is holding approximately 70,000 immigrants across 225 detention centers, nearly double the number from the previous year. The agency has also increased its use of surveillance devices, with participants on GPS ankle monitors rising from about 17,000 to over 42,000 in 2025. CoreCivic's CEO, Patrick Swindle, assured investors that the pace of ICE detentions would increase, emphasizing the complexity of the enforcement ecosystem.

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The expansion of ICE's detention facilities has faced significant opposition from local communities concerned about the implications for immigrant rights and public safety. Critics argue that for-profit detention centers have been linked to a higher incidence of fatalities, with 71% of the 38 deaths in ICE custody from January 2025 occurring in these facilities, according to data from independent journalist Andrew Free.

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Both GEO Group and CoreCivic have expressed their commitment to participating in ICE's expansion plans. Zoley stated, “As a 40-year partner to ICE, we expect to be a part of this solution,” while Swindle reassured investors about the anticipated increase in detention rates.

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The ongoing expansion of ICE's detention capabilities is expected to continue, with further developments in facility construction and community responses likely to unfold in the coming months. The implications of these expansions on immigrant communities and local economies remain a critical area of concern and debate.

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