Story perspectives

DHS Purchases Two Private Detention Centers from CoreCivic for $1.5B

7/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Department of Homeland Security bought Otay Mesa and California City detention centers from CoreCivic for $1.5 billion.
ICE spokesman Jason Sweeney said the facilities are crucial to the detention network.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019 law to phase out private prisons was struck down by the 9th Circuit in 2022.
Attorney General Rob Bonta sued over ICE’s Gilroy office after GSA leased site for $26.5 million, causing construction to pause in July.

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Story summary

U.S. Department of Homeland Security bought Otay Mesa and California City detention centers from CoreCivic for $1.5 billion.
ICE spokesman Jason Sweeney said the facilities are crucial to the detention network.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019 law to phase out private prisons was struck down by the 9th Circuit in 2022.
Attorney General Rob Bonta sued over ICE’s Gilroy office after GSA leased site for $26.5 million, causing construction to pause in July.