New ICE rule, requested by top contractor, ends pay requirement for migrants who work while detained

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Tuesday 16 June 2026 17:37 EDT


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement eased its operating standards for migrant detention centers after being asked by a company that runs more than a dozen facilities, according to a report Tuesday. The new rules, posted online Monday, no longer require private prison contractors to comply with state and local laws, or to pay migrants at least $1 a day to work for them, The Washington Post said.

The move came after The Geo Group — which formerly employed two of President Donald Trump's top immigration officials and made hefty donations to Trump’s 2025 inaugural fund and a Trump-aligned super PAC — was sued in three states for allegedly violating minimum wage laws, The Post said.

The founding faculty director of Northwestern University's Deportation Research Clinic, Jacqueline Stevens, told The Post that ICE can't just supersede employment laws by changing its rules for contractors. "ICE cannot magically wipe out those protections," Stevens said.

A former Department of Homeland Security ombudsman who oversaw migrant detention practices during part of the Biden administration also told The Associated Press that the revised standards were "100 percent" sure to "result in deterioration of already problematic conditions of detention.". “It’s consistent with their general practice, which is to eliminate accountability and oversight," Michelle Brane told AP. "They are not concerned with people’s basic rights or safety of detainees.”

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/migrants-ice-detention-law-geo-group-b2996910.html

[littlemissmartypants]

1. Straight up slavery. Who is surprised by this? Despicable.

Thanks for sharing this, BRDS. ❤️

[COL Mustard]

5. It would be ironic if they also

Charged detainees for room and board.

I shouldn't give them any ideas.

[ananda]

9. Didn't we predict this over a year ago?

Slavery is on the rightwing menu, and not
just for migrants.

[Lonestarblue]

10. Or just like Hitler's work concentration camps where they used prisoners to build products needed for the war.

They worked them to death and then just brought in more.

[Buddyzbuddy]

2. Absolutely, slavery.

As opposed to the Felon in the Whitehouse, most of these people have not been convicted of a felony, but are only being "temporarily" detained for suspicion of misdemeanor civil infractions.

I want Democrats in office that put an end to private prison systems. Specifically, the Geo Group.
NO MORE PRIVATE PRISONS. No more incentives to corporations to profit from incarcerating people.

[Whip-poor-will]

3. Can't we find a good Nazi

Running concentration /extermination facilities can be challenging for the mentally challenged, morally bankrupt among us.

[Figarosmom]

4. I think more states are going to refuse to sell

Them space. This sounds like their could be some real problems at these sites and who's to say there won't be uprisings?

[2naSalit]

6. More lawsuits...

On the horizon.

[Joinfortmill]

7. They're concentration camps.

This will be a stain on the U S.A. for a very long time.

[tanyev]

8. Oh, I see. The GOP's problem with migrant labor is not that they're "taking jobs from Americans".

They hate that migrants have been getting paid for it, instead of working for free.

[GiqueCee]

11. Ummm...

... I don't think they have the legal right to just up and say, "We don't need no stinkin' laws!" But then ICE, and Trump, think they're the Law unto themselves, and accountable to no one.
And the Roberts Court will concur in 3... 2... 1...

[bluedigger]

12. If only there was a word for forced free labor.