Jesuit-Led Group Raises Concerns Over ICE Detention Practices
A coalition of Catholic investors says private prison operator GEO Group refused to allow a shareholder vote aimed at reviewing alleged human rights violations tied to its immigration detention contracts.
The group, led by Jesuit priests, claims GEO shut down a proposal that would have required the company to examine whether its services contribute to breaches of international human rights law. The investors also say the company ended discussions about facility visits and scaled back its human rights disclosures.
GEO is one of the largest contractors working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As the Trump administration expands immigration enforcement and detention efforts, the company has seen growing business, including operating a rapidly expanding detention center in Southern California.
Allegations and Company Response
Activists and detainee advocates have raised concerns about conditions inside some ICE facilities run by GEO and other contractors. Complaints include poor sleeping arrangements and limited access to fresh air. These reports have fueled protests as the government increases detentions and pushes forward with deportations.
Bryan Pham, a Jesuit priest who represents the investor group, questioned the company’s transparency. He said the lack of openness raises serious concerns about what might be happening behind closed doors.
In response, GEO said it has engaged with shareholders for decades and that its disclosures follow legal requirements as a federal contractor. The company stated that its reporting continues to evolve and reflects ongoing communication with investors.
Financial Ties to ICE
GEO, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, relies heavily on ICE contracts. In 2024, ICE operations made up 41.5 percent of the company’s revenue.
According to data from Relevant Research, GEO operates two of the largest ICE detention centers in the country. A facility in South Texas holds around 1,790 detainees, while another in Adelanto, California, houses about 1,784 people. Just one year earlier, the Adelanto center reportedly held only two detainees, showing a sharp rise in occupancy.
Push for Greater Disclosure
The Catholic investors, led by the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, hold roughly 53,000 dollars in GEO shares. Despite their small stake, they have influenced larger shareholders before. In 2019, they secured 88 percent support for a proposal urging GEO to publish an annual human rights report.
Last November, the group filed a new proposal asking GEO to disclose whether its services expose the company to legal and financial risks tied to international human rights law. The proposal cited a University of Washington report claiming detainees from a GEO operated facility in Tacoma, Washington, were transferred to El Salvador’s CECOT prison. The report also said a GEO subsidiary transports detainees to deportation flights.
However, in a December 30 letter to regulators, a GEO attorney called the claims false and misleading. The company argued that the proposal wrongly suggests it is involved in enforced disappearances. It also said its services are carried out in compliance with U.S. federal immigration law.
As the debate continues, the clash highlights growing tensions between faith based investors and corporations tied to immigration enforcement.
