CoreCivic Offers $27/Hour Jobs in Oklahoma as Immigration Detention Soars

 

OKLAHOMA — Private prison operator CoreCivic is capitalizing on the federal government’s growing need to house undocumented immigrants, offering high-paying jobs in Oklahoma with no prior law enforcement or corrections experience required.

The company is now hiring for positions starting at $27 an hour at its Great Plains Correctional Facility in Hinton, North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, and other locations — part of a nationwide recruitment push as immigration detention numbers reach historic highs.

Billions in Federal Contracts Fuel Growth

CoreCivic, one of the largest private prison companies in the U.S., has secured multi-billion-dollar contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain immigrants awaiting deportation or court hearings. In Oklahoma alone, hundreds of detainees are already housed at Cimarron Correctional Facility in Cushing, a facility once used for state prisoners.

Critics argue that for-profit detention creates incentives to increase incarceration rather than reduce it. Supporters say the private sector is filling gaps in capacity that the federal government and state facilities can’t meet.

Economic Impact vs. Ethical Debate

In rural towns like Watonga and Sayre, CoreCivic jobs bring steady paychecks and benefits to areas where employment opportunities are limited. But immigrant advocacy groups continue to call for more oversight, citing concerns about conditions, medical care, and transparency in privately run facilities.