CoreCivic has sold four detention centers to the Department of Homeland Security this year for $2.2 billion and has been touting plans for future sales. But its new CEO faced questions Thursday during an earnings call from investors wanting to know if that would continue under Democratic control of Congress starting in January.

“We can’t predict what will happen one way or the other on timing or really on whether they will happen at all,” CEO Lucibeth Mayberry said of the negotiations for additional sales. “We would urge the ICE administration to move quickly. They have a need for capacity. We have the capacity. There’s no reason to wait.”

Mayberry, who took over as the head of CoreCivic in September, emphasized that Congress had given DHS billions for immigration detention — $45 billion in 2025 and $31 billion last year — available through fiscal year 2029. She said she saw no reason DHS wouldn’t continue entering into contracts until that funding is gone.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), the ranking member of the House Judiciary subcommittee dealing with immigration, said the heads of the companies can expect to be called to testify. She’s been closely tracking immigrants’ deaths in detention.

“The gravy train is over,” Jayapal said.

And Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) is seeking to chair the House Appropriations Committee, saying the party must “claw back” billions of dollars Republicans gave to ICE and Border Patrol outside of the regular appropriations process.

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