ICE revises detention standards, ends detainee wage rule

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has published a significant revision to its national detention standards, removing a longstanding requirement to pay detainees at least $1 per day for work and explicitly stating that detainees in voluntary work programs are not employees entitled to wages or benefits. The new standards, which were posted online on Monday, June 15, 2026, also eliminate several references requiring private contractors to comply with state and local laws.

The changes follow reported requests from major detention contractors, including The GEO Group, which faces lawsuits in multiple states alleging it violates minimum wage laws by paying detainees as little as $1 per day for jobs like cleaning, cooking, and maintenance. The revised standards include language stating detainees "are not entitled to wages or benefits under applicable wage laws or labor regulations." A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, Lauren Bis, said ICE consulted with various stakeholders, including facility operators, and considered that input alongside operational, legal, and policy requirements.

Critics argue the revisions will weaken accountability and worsen conditions in a...