Another private prison could reopen as ICE detention center in Oklahoma

Another privately owned facility in Oklahoma could soon reopen as an immigration detention center. The state Board of Corrections is meeting on Wednesday to vote on a contract to reopen the Diamondback Correctional Facility in Watonga, which has sat empty since 2010.

Under the proposal, CoreCivic, the same private prison company that operates a detention center in Cimarron County, would manage the site. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections would oversee operations through an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sen. Michael Brooks-Jimenez, D-Oklahoma City, an immigration attorney, said the move reflects a broader federal push to expand detention capacity. He pointed to ICE’s recruitment efforts in Oklahoma, including incentives such as signing bonuses and student lo