SAN DIEGO - The Trump administration awarded billions of dollars in contracts for private companies to operate immigration detention centres in California —- less than two weeks before a new state law takes effect to prohibit them. Supporters hoped the law would force U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to look elsewhere after current contracts expire. A federal website posted long-term awards on Friday worth a combined $6.8 billion for detention facilities in San Diego, Calexico, Adelanto and Bakersfield. ICE said the contracts were not subject to the new state law, deflecting criticism that the timing was meant to circumvent it. CoreCivic Inc. won an extension worth $2.1 billion to operate an immigration detention centre in San Diego, with capacity for 1,994 beds.

Source: thestar December 23, 2019 22:29 UTC