The U.S. Department of Homeland Security purchased two major ICE detention facilities in California from private prison company CoreCivic for $1.5 billion, closing the deal on July 2. The Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County and the California City Detention Facility in Kern County will continue operating under CoreCivic management under existing contracts. The acquisition is part of the federal government's broader strategy to expand detention capacity and reduce reliance on private prison contractors through the ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative.