"$1 a day to clean a detention center: The ‘labor exploitation’ of migrants in ICE jails", 10 July 2026

[…]

Adelanto [detention centre] is operated by GEO Group, a private company that has held a lucrative contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for years.

José Luis…received just $1 a day for cleaning the dining hall, bathrooms, and common areas…The payment is a “stipend” provided to detainees who take part in the…Voluntary Work Program at ICE detention centers…

The $1-a-day payment was authorized by the U.S. Congress…and has remained virtually unchanged for decades…

…a…settlement between the California government and GEO Group confirmed that detained migrants are also protected by the state’s workplace safety and health rules…the company agreed to pay more than $100,000 for failing to provide protective equipment or adequately train those who performed cleaning work at the Golden State Annex detention center…

The penalty was imposed in 2023 after inspectors from California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) found six violations of state regulations.

The case was opened after some detainees at Golden State Annex alleged they often cleaned black mold from bathroom walls, saw black dust coming out of ventilation ducts and used cleaning products without instructions during the pandemic…

ICE and GEO Group did not respond to requests for comment…