Indiana could stand to profit handsomely from agreeing to house ICE detainees for the President Donald Trump administration at the Miami Correctional Facility.
The contract the Indiana Department of Correction signed with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security could bring in up to $213 million to the state over the course of two years beginning Oct. 1 as it houses up to 1,000 adult men being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for potential deportation.
Gov. Mike Braun announced the plan to use 1,000 empty beds at the facility for ICE detainees in early August, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem echoed the announcement with the moniker “Speedway Slammer.”
The gains are likely to far overshadow the money the state is spending upfront to renovate the facility, which has only been half occupied since 2021 due to understaffing. The bulk of the $16 million allocation approved Sept. 17 by the state budget committee is planned for temporary housing for staff, and Department of Correction Commissioner Lloyd Arnold said they may not even need to spend the entire allocation.
The per-diem rate for detainees at this facility is $291 per detainee per day ― an unusually high premium compared to the $75-85 the federal government reimburses other facilities used as ICE detention centers in Indiana. ICE will also reimburse the cost of translation services on phone calls for detainees at a rate of up to 89 cents per minute, according to the contract.
Meanwhile, the actual cost of providing housing, meals and transportation for prisoners at Miami Correctional is about $80 per person.
Furthermore, barring “acts of God” that would prevent the facility from running, Indiana is guaranteed to pull in at least $79 million from this contract. That’s because after a 120-day ramp up period, ICE agrees to pay for a minimum of 450 beds, even if they aren’t filled.
Such arrangements have been a boon for other facilities being used for ICE detention in Indiana. Clay County, a small community of 26,400 people, has received millions from the federal government since the county jail became a long-term ICE detention facility. The county’s general fund soared to $13.5 million this year, thanks in part to the jail’s partnership with ICE. That’s a 224% jump from 2013, when the county first began housing ICE detainees.
At the State Budget Committee meeting where the renovation spending was approved, Democrats expressed the concerns many have about making sure detainees maintain civil rights and access to legal representation ― as well as some squeamishness over the profit discussion.
“I trust that you understand that some people have a different perspective, little bit maybe more focused on human rights and the real function of Indiana government, and wonder how we find ourselves in this position where we’re going to profit on somebody else’s misery,” Indianapolis state Rep. Ed Delaney said.
“I would like for you to come to any of our correctional facilities and see how we’re treating those in our care,” Arnold replied.
Of course, according to the contract, such visits would likely have to be approved by ICE.
IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Farmers Advance: Here’s how much Indiana gets paid for holding ICE detainees at the ‘Speedway Slammer’
Reporting by Kayla Dwyer / Farmers Advance
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
