ICE Denies Wages to Detained Immigrants and Sparks New National Controversy
Posted on06/19/26 at 09:59
- ICE Denies Wage Rights
- Minimum Daily Pay Removed
- Criticism of GEO Group Grows
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, updated the standards that regulate immigration detention centers in the United States and included a definition that is already generating controversy among immigrant advocacy organizations, lawmakers, and labor rights experts.
The change establishes that people detained under immigration custody are not considered employees, meaning they would not have access to wages or labor benefits protected by state or local laws.
- Why it matters: The decision comes amid growing pressure on the U.S. immigration system and while several private companies that operate detention centers face lawsuits related to the working conditions of detained immigrants.
ICE Removes Wage References and Redefines the Status of Detainees
The changes were revealed by an investigation from The Washington Post, which says the new version of the national standards removes previous references related to financial compensation for detained people.
The previous rules contemplated that some immigrants could receive at least one dollar per day for certain tasks performed inside the centers.
However, the new document states that detainees “are not employees” and therefore are not subject to state or local labor regulations related to minimum wages, benefits, or workplace protections.
The modification has important implications because it could strengthen the legal position of private companies that operate detention facilities against various lawsuits filed in different states.
Several immigrants have argued in court that they performed work considered essential to the operation of the centers in exchange for minimal compensation of just one dollar per day.
The companies involved maintain that these activities are part of voluntary programs authorized by the federal government and do not constitute a traditional employment relationship.
GEO Group at the Center of the Controversy Over the Changes
The investigation also says GEO Group, one of the largest private companies dedicated to managing immigration detention centers, allegedly proposed modifications to the language used in federal regulations.
The company currently faces litigation related to alleged violations of state minimum wage laws.
This context has sparked new criticism over the role private operators play within the U.S. immigration system.
In addition, the controversy increased because two major figures in the Trump administration’s immigration policy have work histories linked to GEO Group.
Tom Homan, known as the “border czar,” and David Venturella, the current acting director of ICE, previously worked for the company.
That background has raised questions among Democratic lawmakers and civil organizations about possible private-interest influence in the drafting of the new rules.
“The change directly benefits the legal position of a company facing labor litigation,” the report states.
Record Increase in Immigrant Detentions Intensifies Public Scrutiny
The discussion comes at a time of sustained growth in the detained population within the U.S. immigration system.
According to data cited by The Washington Post, more than 73,000 immigrants remained detained at the beginning of this year, one of the highest figures recorded since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, in 2001.
The increase in people under custody has expanded the participation of private companies in the operation of immigration facilities across the country.
At the same time, human rights organizations continue demanding greater transparency over detention conditions, access to basic services, and work programs operating inside these centers.
The update to ICE’s national standards could become a new legal and political battleground over the rights of detained immigrants and the role of private companies within the U.S. immigration system.
What’s Next
Lawsuits related to work programs in detention centers continue moving forward in different jurisdictions, while immigrant advocacy groups anticipate new legal challenges over the application of the recently approved rules.
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SOURCE:La Opinión.