Delaware House Bars Public Funds for Private ICE Detention Centers, Passes 28‑13

**The Delaware House passed legislation preventing state and local governments from using public funds for private, for-profit detention centers.** This measure applies to any future operations within the state.

Delaware lawmakers approved a bill prohibiting the use of state or local public money for private, for-profit detention centers, often contracted by federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This legislation passed the Delaware House with 28 votes in favor and 13 opposed. The state currently has no such private facilities operating within its borders.

The bill specifically targets a range of financial and contractual agreements. It bans contracts for detention services, prohibits public funding tied to the construction or daily operations of such facilities, and blocks any payments or financial incentives connected to private, for-profit detention. This measure does not, however, apply to care-based or therapeutic programs. This proactive legislation aims to prevent the establishment or operation of these centers using taxpayer dollars in Delaware.

Representative Mara Gorman, the primary sponsor of the bill, provided the legislative rationale. She stated that private detention centers typically operate with reduced oversight compared to state-run facilities. Gorman further indicated that conditions in private centers often tend to be worse, emphasizing her belief that this bill will ensure no Delaware dollars facilitate these types of facilities in the state.

This legislative action aligns with a broader trend in Delaware, following a series of immigration bills signed into law in 2025. These previous laws included measures like banning police from entering certain agreements with federal-level authorities and prohibiting citizens’ arrests based on immigration status. The current bill reinforces this proactive stance against the for-profit detention model, even without existing private centers in the state. Lawmakers are moving to establish policies before such facilities might propose operations within Delaware.

The passage of this bill by the House signals a clear legislative position against the for-profit model of detention in Delaware. It marks a significant step in the ongoing discussion surrounding immigration-related policies within the state. The bill now proceeds to a Senate committee for further discussion and consideration, where its future will be determined.