Private prison companies are poised to profit from hard-line immigration policies. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  
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Brennan Center for Justice
 
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After Donald Trump’s election, the stock prices of the country’s two largest private prison companies surged, reflecting investor optimism about his hard-line immigration policies. With a significant portion of their revenue tied to contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, these companies stand to profit from the incoming administration’s mass deportation plans, which will increase the need for detention and transport services. This boom highlights a grim reality: while private prison firms don’t create immigration policies, they are among the biggest beneficiaries and enablers of mass detention and deportation.
Although Trump has offered few details on how he plans to carry out his mass deportation agenda, he has indicated that he will use sweeping presidential powers, including by declaring a national emergency and invoking the Alien Enemies Act and the Insurrection Act. These actions could allow him to deploy the military for immigration enforcement, a prospect that has raised significant concern. We explain the authorities that Trump could leverage and the potential legal checks that might limit his actions.
Native American voters, particularly those on tribal lands, face significant barriers to voting, from long distances to polling places to restrictions on tribal IDs as valid voter identification. A new Brennan Center study reveals that amid these obstacles, voter turnout on tribal lands is on average 11 percentage points lower than in other areas. To address these disparities and end the long, dark history of suppressing Native voters, Congress should pass the Native American Voting Rights Act.
Spanish-speaking communities in the United States are often exposed to election misinformation that exploits their unique cultural and political experiences. To fight this, social media companies should invest more in content moderation and targeted efforts to protect vulnerable groups from harmful falsehoods.

 
PODCAST: Promoting Justice and Public Safety Since the Pandemic
Our latest episode discusses how crime has become a wedge issue used to stoke anxiety and stir division. While crime rates are dropping after the pandemic-era spike, some politicians are still pushing for harsher punishments and the repeal of reforms. Our panel explores the latest data on crime trends, evidence-based solutions for reducing crime, and strategies to lower recidivism and promote successful reentry. Together, they show how reducing crime can unite Americans rather than pull them apart. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.

 
BRENNAN CENTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA

 
Virtual Events
 
Analyzing Trump’s Plan to Invoke the Alien Enemies Act
Tuesday, December 10, 3–4 p.m. ET
Donald Trump has vowed to launch the biggest deportation scheme in U.S. history, in part by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The law was last used to intern tens of thousands of foreign nationals of Japanese, German, and Italian descent during World War II.
 
Join us for an urgent conversation with experts about the Alien Enemies Act and its shameful history, the incoming administration’s plans to use the law, and the obstacles that might stand in the way. RSVP today
 
Insurrection Inc.
Thursday, December 12, 3–4 p.m. ET
The 2024 election underscored the growing power of big money in American politics. This year’s races broke spending records as megadonors backed candidates to push their special interests and buy government access and influence. At the same time, the rise in dark money from undisclosed sources has made it increasingly difficult to identify who is really behind campaign contributions.
 
Join us for a virtual conversation with Stetson University law professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, author of Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians, and Natalie Tennant, former West Virginia secretary of state and newly elected Kanawha County commissioner. They will explore how to strengthen American democracy against the encroaching threat of corporate control. RSVP today

 
 
 
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
120 Broadway, Suite 1750 New York, NY 10271
646-292-8310
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