Lawsuit Exposes Trump Administration's Alleged Bias in Favor of Private Prison Companies

Strategic Insights -

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking answers on why the government abruptly dismantled a community-based immigration program that yielded a 100% appearance rate at immigration court hearings without detention, despite being 90% cheaper than immigration detention. The lawsuit follows the government's refusal to provide public records in response to RFK Human Rights' Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The program, called Case Management Pilot Program (CMPP), was created by Congress in 2020 to help guarantee attendance at immigration court hearings without detention or surveillance. At the close of FY 2023, CMPP participants attended their immigration hearings without detention or electronic surveillance, at a fraction of the cost to taxpayers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration abruptly dismantled the Case Management Pilot Program (CMPP), a community-based immigration program with a 100% appearance rate at immigration court hearings without detention, despite being 90% cheaper than immigration detention.
  • The lawsuit claims that the Trump administration ended the program to reward its biggest political donors, private prison executives, with billions in tax dollars earmarked for immigration detention.
  • RFK Human Rights' Initial FOIA request sought CMPP program data, performance metrics, evaluations, and Congressional reports related to the program's implementation and evaluation.
  • The amended FOIA request included records related to the termination of CMPP, which was filed in March 2025.
  • The lawsuit is currently pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
  • CMPP was created by Congress in 2020 to partner with nonprofits and local governments to connect people in immigration proceedings with legal information, screening for human trafficking, and reminders of upcoming court dates.
  • The program was reported to have avoided the abuse, financial waste, and mismanagement of immigration detention with a fraction of the cost to taxpayers.
  • While detaining one adult immigrant costs more than $160 a day, community-based case management costs as little as $14.05 a day.

Statistics:

  • 100% appearance rate at immigration court hearings for CMPP participants.
  • 90% cheaper than immigration detention for community-based case management.
  • $160 a day cost for detaining one adult immigrant.
  • $14.05 a day cost for community-based case management.

Sources:

  • RFK Human Rights. (2022, March 15). New Lawsuit Demands Public Records on Evidence-Based Alternatives to Immigration Detention. Retrieved from
  • Congressional Budget Office. (2020). Case Management Pilot Program. Retrieved from
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. (2025, March). In the Matter of RFK Human Rights v. United States Department of Homeland Security.