Private prison operator CoreCivic saw 55% increase in immigration detainee contracts

Private prison company CoreCivic has inked contracts to house immigrants in facilities like the one in Mason, Tennessee, as part of the Trump administration immigration crackdown. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

CoreCivic has seen a substantial increase in revenue over the past six months, driven by a steady rise in new federal government contracts signed as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.

The Brentwood, Tennessee-based private prison operator announced its quarterly earnings Wednesday, telling investors that its revenue was up 18% compared to the same period in 2024, when Trump wasn’t in power and the federal government appeared to be cutting ties with the privately-owned prison industry.

“We expect detainee populations to continue to grow as [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] implements its interior enforcement plan, contributing to a strong 2025,” said CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger, in a news release.

CoreCivic was one of a handful of private prison operators in a strong position to financially benefit from Trump’s return to the Presidency, as it inked multiple contracts to house detained immigrants in facilities in over half a dozen states. The total value of these contracts is over $680 million.

From July to September 2024, CoreCivic generated $140 million in contracts from ICE. Over that same period this year, revenue increased to $215 million, and the company expects it to grow further, CoreCivic announced during its earnings report.

West Tenn. town approves CoreCivic to run immigration detention facility after chaotic meeting

Since Trump’s January inauguration, his administration has increased its strict and harsh crackdown on those in the United States without citizenship, leading to a spike in arrests and pushback on the tactics of the administration.

ICE and Homeland Security agents have been seen patrolling in cities across the country. Agents have also been accused of entering homes without warrants in Portland, unlawfully arresting U.S. citizens in Los Angeles and using tear gas to confront community protests in Chicago.

In Memphis, these federal officers have been seen making arrests in unmarked cars and wearing face masks that completely cover their faces, making them unidentifiable. Many of the ICE arrests in Memphis have resulted in people being detained at a CoreCivic facility in Mason, Tennessee.

CoreCivic, which generates over $2 billion in annual revenue, has long been a federal contractor for immigration detention, playing a significant role in Trump’s first term. In 2021, former President Joe Biden’s administration tried to phase out all federal contracts with private prison companies.

The company spent $120,000 lobbying on Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which included significant additional funding for ICE, according to the federal political spending tracker Quant Quiver. Hininger gave $300,000 to Trump and affiliated PACs during the 2024 election, and another $500,000 to his inaugural committee, Open Secrets reported. 

The move led to the initial closure of the West Tennessee CoreCivic-run prison in Mason. But the company in August reupped its contract with the city

CoreCivic also makes a portion of its money from state contracts, including a $230 million deal to run four state prisons in Tennessee. Those prisons have generated tens of millions of dollars in fines from the state over management issues related to the death of inmates, and triggered a federal civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

CoreCivic is one of the largest political spenders in Tennessee. From 2010 to 2024, the private prison company spent more than $2.7 million to lobby lawmakers and made another $1 million in campaign contributions, according to the Lookout’s political spending database.