Diamondback Facility Reopens for ICE Detainees

The Diamondback Correctional Facility in Watonga is reopening and will soon begin housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees for the first time in more than a decade. The private prison, operated by CoreCivic, will take in federal detainees under a new agreement involving ICE and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC).

Five-Year Contract With Option to Renew

According to a news release and contracts obtained by Oklahoma Voice, CoreCivic was awarded the agreement through ICE and the state DOC. The contract began on September 30 and will run for five years, with renewal options.

As part of the agreement, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections will receive a monthly administrative fee of $833,000 to monitor CoreCivic’s compliance and carry out other oversight responsibilities.

CoreCivic Diamondback to Begin Receiving Detainees in 2026

CoreCivic spokesperson Brian Todd said the company expects to receive detainees in the first quarter of 2026. When fully operational, the facility is projected to generate approximately $100 million in annual revenue.

The Diamondback facility has 2,160 beds and has been dormant since 2010. Originally built in 1998, it was previously owned and run by the Corrections Corporation of America, which later became CoreCivic.

Hundreds of Jobs and Local Tax Revenue Expected

Todd said reopening the prison will create an estimated 400 jobs. The facility is also expected to generate around $760,000 in yearly property taxes and about $2 million in annual utility payments, creating a significant economic footprint in the region.

Roles of ICE, CoreCivic, and DOC

Under the contract:

• CoreCivic will house and receive detainees

• DOC will “ensure the transfer and placement” of detainees at the facility

• DOC will maintain access to facility records for oversight purposes

CoreCivic emphasized in its statement that the company does not enforce immigration laws, make arrests, or make decisions about detainees’ release or deportation, saying its role is solely to provide housing and care.

Facility Reopening Follows Decade of Inactivity

Diamondback last operated in 2010, when CoreCivic closed it due to state corrections changes and federal bed reductions. Its reopening marks the largest immigration detention expansion in Oklahoma in several years.

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