Hundreds Unemployed After Two Federal Detention Centers Close In Big Spring

BIG SPRING, TX –– On Wednesday, two private prisons housing federal inmates will close their doors in the City of Big Spring after federal contracts expired on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that instructed the Attorney General to "not renew Department of Justice contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities."

This order subsequently affected Big Spring CI and Big Spring Flightline CI –– both facilities are operated by the GEO Group, Inc and were contracted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to local news outlets, more than 300 inmates are currently being housed between both facilities and will be transferred to other federal facilities around the country.

While the future use of the facilities remains up in the air, the executive order only prevents the renewal of private prison contracts with the Department of Justice, but not Homeland Security. This means the prisons could potentially be used as ICE Detention centers.

The closure of the facilities will also impact the hundreds of full-time employees that help staff the two prisons. According to GEO Group, some employees will have the opportunity to transfer to available positions within the company.

The closure of the facilities will also impact the hundreds of full-time employees that help staff the two prisons. According to GEO Group, some employees will have the opportunity to transfer to available positions within the company.

Next Monday, December 6th, the Howard County Leadership Summit will take place at the Dorothy Garrett Coliseum on the Sonic Floor to discuss the significant job loss as a result of the closures. The summit will kick off at 6:30 p.m and will include community leaders from Big Spring, Coahoma, and Forsan.

The event will be open to the public.