The Immigrant Problem and Private Prisons

Only One Winner - It's Not You, Not Me, Not The Government

So, president-elect Trump has screamed for years about “massive deportations” and “getting the illegal migrants out who are killing our cities, and poisoning our blood.” In this, his third campaign for president, he really amplified this plan.

But, how would it happen? Would it be easy, smooth, wrinkle-free? Massive immigrant deportation plans by an incoming administration could and would face several hurdles, including:

Legal Challenges:

Courts may intervene, especially if policies violate constitutional rights or existing laws protecting asylum seekers, children, or long-term residents. The breaking apart of families could trigger bureaucratic snags that would demand the involvement of courts.

Logistical Strains:

Implementing large-scale deportations would require significant resources, coordination, and funding, potentially overwhelming immigration enforcement agencies. Local law enforcement agencies may not be able or willing to assist with staffing.

Public and International Backlash:

Harsh measures could draw criticism domestically and abroad, straining diplomatic relations and fueling activism. However, this may not prove to be much of a deterrent. We already know and have seen just how little the president-elect cares about America’s standing in the eyes of the international community.

Economic Impact:

Industries relying on immigrant labor, such as agriculture, construction, and services, could experience significant disruptions impacting the broader economy.

State and Local Resistance:

Sanctuary cities and states may refuse to cooperate, complicating enforcement efforts. If these plans move forward, the human cost could be immense, with families separated and communities destabilized. However, resistance from courts, communities, and advocacy groups could significantly shape or limit their execution.

And, there ARE groups including the ACLU, Documented (NY) and a number of other grassroots organizations already organizing and preparing for an onslaught of needs and legal challenges. In addition, there are ALREADY organizations and specific employment sectors (various segments of the construction industry and farming operations) that are urging the incoming president-elect and those with access to exempt their immigrant workforce. It is a simple fact that our economy is dependent on this segment of the workforce. For anyone to assert differently is simply absurd.

But with this necessity must come some protection and some safety. If the incoming president claims that the "immigrants are the problem with America," then he must PROVE that. And, the numbers are not in his favor. Studies consistently show that undocumented immigrants generally commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens in the United States. Here's a breakdown of the research findings:

Crime Rates by Immigration Status:

A 2020 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that both legal and undocumented immigrants are less likely to be arrested for serious crimes than native-born citizens.

Research by the Cato Institute (2018) found that undocumented immigrants have 50% lower criminal conviction rates than native-born Americans in Texas.

FBI and Law Enforcement Data:

Federal and local law enforcement data do not indicate higher crime rates among undocumented immigrants compared to the general population.

Many undocumented immigrants avoid criminal activity due to fears of deportation and the desire to stay under the radar. While INDIVIDUAL cases of crime by undocumented immigrants can receive significant media attention, the overall data does not support the claim that they commit crimes at higher rates than U.S.-born residents.

At any rate, SOME of the president-elect's campaign rhetoric may have been just that - rhetoric - the fact remains that it is a very REAL fact that he may indeed begin mass deportation and immigration sweeps soon after taking office and having a plan in place. Some local sheriff's and police chefs are ALREADY taking action to ensure that they are prepared to assist in rounding up of immigrants.

Others, including mayors and some governors, are steadfastly asserting that they will BLOCK such actions in THEIR jurisdictions. Which has already met some blowback from Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, who have issued threats of jail to those officials. All of which leads me to believe that there will be NO winners in the coming battle(s).

There may be ONE winner, though, and that is the corporate private prison operators: CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America); GEO Group; Management and Training Corporation (MTC): and LaSalle Corrections (a smaller operator primarily in the South.)

The first 2, CoreCivic and GEO already have a toehold in immigrant detention and friendly legislators' votes in their pockets as they have relied heavily on immigrants for their profitability for years. And, THAT - profitability - is the linchpin of their business - at the expense of humans.

Private prisons prioritize profit over constitutional rights, cutting costs on staff, healthcare, and safety. This creates inhumane conditions and systemic abuses, proving they can't uphold the standards required for a just and constitutional system.

Their profit centers are immense. All the "necessity" points: phones, video visits, commissary, writing materials, medical care - there is an inflated price for EVERYTHING. The investors must be satisfied, after all. Costs kept low, prices kept high = satisfied investors and stockholders. In the past, there have been guardrails.

Courts have stepped in and held some of them to account and forced compliance with the constitution or they have lost contracts. Recently, one of the largest suppliers of medical/mental health care to prisons and jails, WELLPATH, declared bankruptcy. They are trying to get out of the prisons/jails business, trying to offer up for sale all three segments of their corporate structure which deal with prisons.

It IS a tricky business. Now, with many Courts being overwhelmed and a judiciary seemingly bonded to NOT protecting individual rights, those guardrails slip away. Humanity will lose, government will lose, America will lose - and the prison industry will boom.

Let's hope it doesn't come to this.