California nonprofit charity owns ICE detention center facility
May 13, 2026·Location: Brawley, CA

A KPBS investigation revealed that the Brawley Community Foundation, a registered nonprofit, owns the Imperial Regional Detention Facility, an ICE immigrant jail in California. The foundation has secured at least $6 million in property tax breaks since 2016 using its nonprofit status, benefits typically reserved for charities and hospitals. The foundation owns the detention center through a subsidiary company and has been involved in its operations for over a decade.
Sources
- California calls this company a charity. It’s the landlord for an ICE detention center
KPBS·May 13, 2026·archived copy
- A deeper look into who owns the Imperial Valley immigration detention facility
- California lawmaker aims to limit companies involved in deportations from seeking tax breaks
KPBS·May 19, 2026·archived copy
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