Torrance County Extends ICE Contract for another Three Months
In a meeting that lasted less than two minutes (one minute, fifty-eight seconds, to be precise), the Torrance County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a contract modification extending the county’s agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for use of the Torrance County Detention Facility during a special meeting held Tuesday afternoon, December 30, 2025.
The action extends the existing contract term through March 31, 2026, continuing ICE’s use of up to 505 detention beds at the facility. The approval came with no public comment and limited discussion among commissioners.
According to county staff, the modification includes three primary changes: a term extension from the previous expiration date of Oct. 31, 2025, through March 31, 2026; an increase in the fixed monthly payment associated with the ICE-allocated beds; and a new requirement that the facility maintain 85 percent staffing levels overall. According to the contract documents, the modification reflects approximately $2 million in fixed payments over the covered performance period, subject to the contract’s monthly payment structure and staffing requirements.
“This is a term extension which would include a term from the expiration of the last period through March 31 of 2026,” staff explained during the meeting. “The modification also increases the fixed monthly payment for the 505 beds that are allocated by ICE … and it requires 85 percent staffing levels overall in the facility.”
The detention facility is operated by CoreCivic under a separate agreement. Under the ICE contract, the fixed monthly payment structure is tied to bed capacity rather than daily population counts, with rates varying by funding category, including ICE and U.S. Marshals Service detainees.
The contract documentation included with the meeting packet specifies that the staffing requirement applies facility-wide and allows for certain clinical positions to be filled by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or licensed vocational nurses, depending on availability.
Commissioners approved the contract modification by unanimous vote. No questions were raised by the commissioners prior to the vote.
The Torrance County Detention Facility has long played a role in the county’s finances, with federal detention contracts representing a significant source of operational revenue. County officials did not discuss broader financial impacts or long-term plans for the facility during Tuesday’s meeting.
Editor’s note: The full contract modification between Torrance County and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was included in the official meeting packet. It can be found below.