The Immigration-industrial Prison Complex, Profit, and the Hispanization of Federal Detention and Imprisonment

• In Event: 549 - Section on International Migration Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 15. Crimmigration

Abstract

ICE has increasingly privatized detention and imprisonment of first time and repeat entry undocumented immigrants. At a time of sentencing reform, immigrant custody is a pillar maintaining private prison profits. Operation Streamline at the U.S.-Mexico border has resulted in the development of a growing immigration industrial prison complex that produces the Hispanization of detention and federal imprisonment. Undocumented immigration is treated as a color-blind policy but it has major impact on Hispanics, especially Mexicans. Civil and criminal sanctions for undocumented immigrant entrants and re-entrants will contribute to Hispanic racial formation by harming community development.

Authors

• Judith Ann Warner, Texas A&M International Univ.

• Rohitha Goonatilake, Texas A & M International University