New Blog on Texas Private Immigrant Detention Centers

Renee Feltz and Stokely Baksh, two Masters degree students at Columbia University, have started a new blog on the business of immigrant detention centers in Texas. According to the website, the project

explores the business of immigration detention centers. In recent years, continued debate over undocumented immigrants has seen increased funds to Immigrant and Customs Enforcement under Department of Homeland Security to process and detain such individuals, which in turn has increased business relationships with privatized detention center operators/constructors and local county governments. These relationships have been made possible through contracts and Intergovernmental Service Agreements.

According to one feasibility study analysis for a contract to build a privately operated ICE facility in Texas, the intergovernmental service agreement was “issued as a direct result of intense pressure on ICE to take into custody and deport a substantially larger number of illegal immigrants.”

So far, the sight has covered several stories that Texas Prison Bid'ness readers might find interesting including:

• Corrections Corporation of America's 25th anniversary

• MTC's Tent City Update

• Hutto Detention Center to Expand - with blogger's personal insight

Welcome to the web, Renee and Stokely! We look forward to seeing the project develop.