Jakarta Aktual – 18 June 2026 | The Geo Group, a private contractor operating numerous immigration detention centers across the United States, has been under intense scrutiny for its alleged mistreatment of detainees and questionable labor practices. Recent reports have shed light on the deplorable conditions within these facilities, including rotten food, putrid water, and inadequate medical care. Detainees have also reported instances of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, with some even resorting to hunger strikes to protest their inhumane treatment.
A series of investigative reports has revealed that nearly 80% of the people being held in the Geo Group’s Moshannon Valley facility had no prior or current criminal convictions, contradicting the common perception that these detention centers are solely for housing dangerous criminals. Instead, many of these individuals are asylum seekers who have fled their home countries in search of safety and a better life. The Geo Group’s facilities have become synonymous with suffering, and it is imperative that the public remains informed about the atrocities occurring within these walls.
In a shocking turn of events, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has quietly rewritten the rules governing its detention system, stripping out long-standing pay language for detainees and narrowing legal constraints on private operators like the Geo Group. This move has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that it will only exacerbate the existing problems within these facilities. The revised standards no longer require detainees to be paid at least $1 per day, and they also remove references to contractors having to comply with state or local laws, effectively gutting protections designed to ensure basic labor standards.
The Geo Group has faced numerous lawsuits alleging that detainees were paid little or nothing for essential work performed inside detention centers. In one notable case, a court upheld a $23 million award against the company after detainees at the Tacoma detention center argued they were illegally denied the state minimum wage. The Geo Group has also been accused of lobbying ICE to revise federal detention standards in its favor, with the agency ultimately complying with the company’s requests.
A former detainee, Kyron Shakeel Swaso, has spoken out about the horrific conditions he endured during his time at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, which is operated by the Geo Group. Swaso, who was the main organizer of a hunger strike at the facility, reported instances of spoiled food, mistreatment by staff, and poor living conditions. He also alleged that detainees who complained about these issues would become targets, facing retaliation from the facility’s staff. Swaso’s story is a testament to the bravery of those who have suffered at the hands of the Geo Group and ICE, and it highlights the need for continued scrutiny of these facilities.
In conclusion, the Geo Group’s immigration detention centers have become a symbol of the darker aspects of the United States’ immigration policies. The company’s questionable labor practices, mistreatment of detainees, and alleged lobbying efforts have all contributed to a toxic environment that prioritizes profits over human rights. As the public becomes increasingly aware of these issues, it is essential that we continue to shed light on the atrocities occurring within these facilities and demand accountability from the Geo Group and ICE.
