DEMING – Torrance County commissioners have voted unanimously to extend the county’s detention contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for one additional month at the CoreCivic-operated Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia.
The vote took place Tuesday as county leaders continue to manage the contract on a short-term basis. The original agreement between Torrance County and ICE expired on October 31, 2025, and commissioners have since approved several temporary extensions to maintain operations at the detention center while state law changes approach.
The CoreCivic-run facility has a rated capacity of approximately 910 beds and was reactivated for federal detention use on May 15, 2019, after the facility had previously been idle since 2017. The center houses federal detainees under contracts with agencies including ICE and the U.S. Marshals Service.
According to federal inspection records, the facility had approximately 124 employees at the time of a recent review. Public records also show that as of January 1, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service was charged a per-day rate of $138.19 per federally held person at the facility. Similar per-diem rates have historically been used to reimburse private operators for housing federal detainees.
The Torrance County Detention Facility has also faced scrutiny in recent years. Advocacy organizations and federal oversight agencies have documented complaints and inspections related to detention conditions, including concerns about medical care, staffing levels, and detainee safety. County officials and facility operators have stated they continue working to address compliance and operational requirements.
Earlier this year, New Mexico lawmakers approved legislation that will prohibit counties from entering into new detention agreements with ICE. That law is scheduled to take effect in May, meaning the Torrance County facility will eventually be required to end its federal detention contract once current arrangements expire.
State officials with the New Mexico Department of Justice previously notified the county in January that an extension of the contract was likely improper and invalid, but commissioners proceeded with the latest short-term extension while longer-term legal and operational decisions are considered.