Whether a private, for-profit prison company should be permitted to build and run a federal prison

An intense battle is taking place in Gary, Indiana over whether a private, for-profit prison company—the GEO Group—should be permitted to build and run a federal prison to house detained immigrants. “The opponents may have the upper hand based on council action Tuesday. The council ultimately declined to refer a variance request for land at the airport to be used for the detention center to committee for a second reading. Instead, the request is expected to come back before the council on May 4 when it will reportedly need to have 6 of the 9 council members vote in favor of the variance if it is to be approved.”