Private prison giants GEO Group and CoreCivic, which operate over half of the country's private detention facilities, including many run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have been emboldened in their quest to access fresh lines of credit following a pending law that would prevent banks from denying services based on a company's involvement in "politically unpopular" businesses.
The Fair Access to Banking Act, which has garnered support from some lawmakers, would require lending decisions to be made on an impartial, risk-based basis rather than based on political or reputational favoritism. The legislation aims to prevent banks from cutting ties with institutions involved in industries deemed "harmful" by the public.
However, civil liberties advocates have expressed concerns that the law could ultimately benefit private prisons like GEO Group and CoreCivic, which profit from detaining immigrants and other vulnerable populations. According to Eunice H. Cho, a senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison Project, "Private prisons profit purely from locking people up, but the market is not immune to public accountability."
In recent years, some of the largest banks in the country have withdrawn their services from private prisons, including JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. However, these institutions are now seeking to reverse course and regain access to credit lines.
GEO Group spent $3.3 million on lobbying efforts last year, with $1.37 million dedicated to promoting the Fair Access to Banking Act. CoreCivic allocated $3.5 million for lobbying activities in 2025, of which $2 million was focused on pushing for the legislation. The companies have also utilized their in-house government relations experts to advocate for the bill.
The push for favorable treatment by private prisons has raised concerns about the potential impact on vulnerable populations and the environment. As one critic noted, "Consumer advocacy is a very important part of the democratic process, including economic boycott and protest against corporations."
The Fair Access to Banking Act, which has garnered support from some lawmakers, would require lending decisions to be made on an impartial, risk-based basis rather than based on political or reputational favoritism. The legislation aims to prevent banks from cutting ties with institutions involved in industries deemed "harmful" by the public.
However, civil liberties advocates have expressed concerns that the law could ultimately benefit private prisons like GEO Group and CoreCivic, which profit from detaining immigrants and other vulnerable populations. According to Eunice H. Cho, a senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison Project, "Private prisons profit purely from locking people up, but the market is not immune to public accountability."
In recent years, some of the largest banks in the country have withdrawn their services from private prisons, including JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. However, these institutions are now seeking to reverse course and regain access to credit lines.
GEO Group spent $3.3 million on lobbying efforts last year, with $1.37 million dedicated to promoting the Fair Access to Banking Act. CoreCivic allocated $3.5 million for lobbying activities in 2025, of which $2 million was focused on pushing for the legislation. The companies have also utilized their in-house government relations experts to advocate for the bill.
The push for favorable treatment by private prisons has raised concerns about the potential impact on vulnerable populations and the environment. As one critic noted, "Consumer advocacy is a very important part of the democratic process, including economic boycott and protest against corporations."
. Like, I get that private prisons are trying to stay afloat, but at what cost? The thought of them getting easier access to credit is like, super concerning 
. It's like they're more invested in being popular with the banks than in actually helping people get released from detention 
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. And now, if this law passes, it'll be like they're getting a free pass to do whatever they want 
. I'm all for consumer advocacy and holding corporations accountable 
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. It's not about democracy or freedom; it's about who has the most money and influence 
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I think this law could be super problematic for people who are already in a tough spot, you know? Like, private prisons are making money off of locking up immigrants and other vulnerable populations, but with this law, they might actually get easier access to credit. It's like, shouldn't we be prioritizing the safety and well-being of those people over the profit margins of corporations?
Like, what's next? Are we gonna let companies profiting from our worst nightmares (aka private prisons) just waltz back in with a smile on their face because they can afford to hire more lobbyists? 
I mean, come on, banks get to make their own rules based on public opinion? That's not how democracy works. We need to be able to hold corporations accountable for their actions, even if it means cutting them off at the knees (or in this case, the credit line). And what's with the emphasis on "risk-based" decisions? Who decides what's risk-based and who gets a free pass? Sounds like just another way to let the powerful get richer off our backs. 
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. seriously tho, shouldn't we be worried about the fact that GEO Group and CoreCivic are basically profiting off of people who can't even get a fair hearing in court? it's just so messed up 
. and those banks gotta be getting some serious pressure from their lobbyists or something cuz they're like "oh no we can't afford to lose business with these prisons" 
I mean, I get that banks want to make money, but is this really worth compromising on our values? Shouldn't we be pushing for more accountability from these companies instead of just giving them a free pass? 
It's like, we're trading one form of exploitation for another. I hope there are some good people in our government who can see through this and make sure that the rights of the marginalized aren't being trampled on 
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. These private prisons are making a fortune off of people who can't afford bail or get stuck in the system for years 
. It's not right to just give them a free pass because they're "politically unpopular" 
, what's to stop them from getting into other shady businesses? 
. We need to be more careful about who we're giving a hand out to 
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. This legislation needs a lot more scrutiny before it becomes law 
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what's wrong with these companies tho?! They're basically profiting off people who can't even get a fair shot at life, just because it's convenient for them 
That's like, a lot of money that could be used for actual good 
. If they can get access to fresh credit lines without any real scrutiny, it's only going to perpetuate their business model of profiting off vulnerable people. And let's be real, their lobbying efforts are pretty impressive with $3.5 million invested in 2025 
️. We can't just tweak the system and expect things to change without a fight. The environment and vulnerable populations deserve better than corporations like GEO Group and CoreCivic exploiting them for profit 
about this new law! It's like they're basically saying banks have to ignore all the bad stuff these private prisons do, as long as it doesn't hurt their bottom line 
We need more awareness about what these companies are doing and how it affects us all 
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