GEO Group reopens Michigan prison as ICE facility, plans long-term contract

The GEO Group has announced it will reopen the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, as a federal immigration processing center under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This facility, closed since 2022 following the Biden administration's executive order against for-profit prisons, will now cater to the increasing need for immigration bed space. GEO's Executive Chairman, George C. Zoley, emphasized the company's long-standing partnership with ICE and the expected annual revenue of over $70 million from the facility. However, civil rights advocates and local groups, such as No Detention Centers in Michigan, have voiced strong opposition, citing safety concerns and the profit motives of such operations. The facility is expected to provide various services for ICE, including security and medical care. A long-term contract between GEO and ICE is anticipated to be finalized within a few months, marking a significant shift in immigration enforcement policies under the current administration.