>>> A BEIJING TIGHTENS ITS GRIP, HONG KONGERS FACE YEARS IN
PRISON FOR SAYING OR DOING THE WRONG THING.
>> YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO BE READY TO GET ARRESTED AT ANY
POINT.
>> ANY POINT. FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY THE AND
FREEDOM IS A LIFELONG MISSION. THERE ARE MORE BATTLES COMING,
I'M SURE.
>> PRIVATE PRISON COMPANIES MAKE A PROFIT BY INCARCERATING PEOPLE
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S BEHALF.
>> FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, THEIR RETIREMENT FUND IS SOMEHOW
CONNECTED WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> IT'S JUST EXPLOITIVE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
>> THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY PUT THESE COMPANIES OUT OF BUSINESS.
>> YEAH, GOOD.
>> WE WANT JUSTICE.
>>
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> HERE THERE'S ABOUT PROBABLY AT LEAST TWO, THREE DOZEN PEOPLE
LINED UP AGAINST THE WALL. WE SAW A COACH BUS FULL OF
PEOPLE ARRESTED. THEY WERE CLEARLY ANTICIPATING A
LOT OF ARRESTS TODAY. [ SPEAK CAN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
THE POLICE HAVE MADE AT LEAST 100 ARRESTS.
PEOPLE ARE STILL YELLING SLOGANS THAT ARE NOW ILLEGAL UNDER THE
NEW NATIONAL SECURITY LAW. THEY'RE YELLING ABOLISH THE
POLICE.
>> HONG KONG IS A CITY IN THE SOUTH OF CHINA IN ONE OF THE
MOST DENSELY POPULATED PLACES IN THE WORLD WITH OVER 70 MILLION
PEOPLE. ONCE A BRITISH COLONY, IT SAW
RAPID GROWTH IN THE 50s AND SINGZ AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
FLED MAINLAND CHINA'S OPPRESSIVE POLITICAL REGIME.
CHINA REGAINED HONG KONG IN 1987.
SOON AFTER THE HANDOVER, BEIJING BEGAN TO ENCROACH UPON THE
RIGHTS THEY PROMISED TO UPHOLD. UNTIL LAST YEAR.
>> CHINA HAS PROPOSED A NEW LAW THAT COULD END ANY DREAM OF
DEMOCRACY FOR HONG KONG. HONG KONG'S NATIONAL SECURITY
LAW CAME INTO FORCE IN 2020 AFTER A BRUTAL CRACKDOWN ON THE
PRO DEMOCRACY AND ANTI-CHINA MOVEMENT IN 2019.
>> A NATIONAL SECURITY LAW WAS ONLY MADE PUBLIC THE MOMENT THE
LAW WENT INTO FORCE.
>> BEIJING BYPASSED HONG KONG'S OWN LEGISLATURE TO IMPLEMENT THE
LAW.
>> THE NEW LAW IS ABOUT CONTROL AND MAKING CLEAR WHO HAS IT.
THE PUNISHMENT, UP TO LIFE IN PRISON.
>> IT CRIMINALIZES WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE SA COMMITTEES,
SUBVERSION, CONCLUSION WITH FOREIGN FORCES AND TERRORISM,
ALL CARRYING A LIFE SENTENCE AND SO VAGUELY DEFINED THAT EVEN
DEFACING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COULD EARN THE MAXIMUM PENALTY.
>> YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO BE READY TO GET ARRESTED AT ANY
POINT.
>> ANY POINT. I TOLD MY PR TEAM, IF IT
HAPPENS, I JUST TYPE LETTER A AND WITHOUT ANYTHING, THAT MEANS
ARREST.
>> TED WAS AN OUTSPOKEN MEMBER OF THE PRO DEMOCRACY POSITION IN
THE HONG KONG'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, LEGCO.
THE REST ARE VOTED IN BY INTEREST GROUPS.
MOSTLY LOYAL TO THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.
>> I WOULDN'T DESCRIBE MYSELF AS A RADICAL PERSON, BUT THEN I
HAVE RADICAL TACTICS. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> DURING THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF HIS TERM, TED BECAME MONEY
KNOWN FOR USING CONTROVERSIAL TACTICS, LIKE THROWING STINK
BOMBS, TO PUSH BACK ON BEIJING'S AGENDA.
>> THE PLAN THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME WHEN I WAS IN CHAMBER, I
MIGHT BE ARRESTED FOR THAT, BUT IT'S TOTALLY NONVIOLENT, RIGHT?
AND IT WORKED. TED'S TACTICS WERE ESSENTIALLY
PHILLY BUSTERS DELAYING THE INEVITABLE.
ONCE THE NATIONAL SECURITY LAW TOOK EFFECT, OFFICIALS WERE SENT
FROM MAINLAND CHINA TO WORK AS A NEW NATIONAL SECURITY ARM.
OVERNIGHT, PEOPLE BECAME AFRAID OF GETTING CAUGHT DOING OR
SAYING THE WRONG THING. PRO DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS LIKE TED
HAD LONG BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR MOVEMENTS IN
COMMUNICATIONS BEING MONITORED. BUT NOW THE SURVEILLANCE SEEMED
TO INTENSIFY.
>> THERE WAS A TIME I WAS FOLLOWED BY A CAR FOR A WEEK.
I SPOTTED THEM. I COULDN'T HELP ANY MORE.
I STOPPED MY CAR AND CONFRONTED THOSE PEOPLE.
WHO ARE YOU, ARE YOU POLICE OFFICERS OR ARE YOU NATIONAL
SECURITY, INTELLIGENCE PEOPLE? WHO ARE YOU?
AND THEN THEY JUST WOULDN'T ANSWER.
THEY WOULDN'T SAY A WORD ABOUT IT.
>> HONG KONG HAS LONG BEEN A GLOBAL FINANCIAL HUB, ACCUSTOM
TO BEING MENTIONED IN THE SAME BREATH AS NEW YORK OR LONDON.
NOW THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ALLOWED IT TO THRIVE ARE
CRUMBLING AS BEIJING TIGHTENS ITS GRIP.
BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME DETERMINED TO PUSHBACK.
EDEN CHOW ATTENDED A PROTEST IN 2019.
AS A RESULT, HE'S NOW FACING FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> WITH STREET PROTESTS NO LONGER A VIABLE FORM OF DISSENT,
THEY TOOK THINGS TO THE BALLOT. GWENNETH HO IS A JOURNALIST
TURNED POLITICIAN. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
SHE WAS COMPELLED TO RUN FOR OFFICE AFTER A REPORTING
ASSIGNMENT THRUST HER INTO A VIOLENT ATTACK ON PROTESTERS
RETURNING HOME ON SUBWAY. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> THE MEN WORE MASKS AND WHITE SHIRTS AND STARTED BEATING
PROTESTERS INDISCRIMINATELY. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> HER CAMERA WAS STILL ROLLING AS SHE WAS BEATEN WITH STICKS.
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> AT LEAST 45 PEOPLE WERE INJURED DURING THE ATTACK.
IT'S UNCLEAR WHO WAS BEHIND IT, BUT AT LEAST SOME OF THE MEMBER
ARE BELIEVED TO BE MEMBERS OF TRAIDS, ORGANIZED CRIME
SYNDICATES WITH THE REPUTATION OF BEING THUGS FOR ANYONE
WILLING TO PAY. IT TOOK ALMOST 45 MINUTES TO
ARRIVE, AND EVEN THEN, NO ARRESTS WERE MADE THAT NIGHT.
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> IN THE LEAD UP TO THE OHIO STAKES 2020
STAKES STAKES
HIGH STAKES 2020 PRO DEMOCRACY ELECTIONS, THEY BELIEVED THEY
HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO ACHIEVE REAL CHANGE, BUT THEY NEVER GOT
THE CHANGE.
>> THE LEADING PRO DEMOCRACY FIGURES IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN
BARRED FROM RUNNING IN THE CITY'S UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
>> 12 PRO DEMOCRACY RM DISQUALIFIED, INCLUDING
GWENNETH. THEN BEIJING PASSED A RESOLUTION
TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO DISMISS LEGISLATORS THEY DEEMED
A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY. AS A RESULT, FOUR LAWMAKERS WERE
PROMPTLY KICKED OUT OF LEGCO. AS A RESULT, OTHERS RESIGNED IN
PROTEST. NOW WITH THE MOVEMENT
SUPPRESSED, THERE ISN'T EVEN AN OPPOSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT.
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> UNDER MOUNTING SCRUTINY AT HOME, TED FEARED HE COULD BE
PROSECUTED AND FOREVER IMPRISONED UNDER THE FLASHL
SECURITY LAW. SO HE FLED WITH HIS FAMILY.
>> WAS IT A DIFFICULT DECISION?
>> IT WAS DECISION. I GREW UP ALL MY LIFE IN LONG
CONGRESS. I'LL MISS HONG KONG FOREVER.
>> DO YOU THINK YOU'LL EVER BE ABLE TO GO BACK?
>> IT'S MY LIFELONG FIGHT AND TO DEFEAT THIS REGIME.
I DON'T SEE PEOPLE LOSING HOPE NOW.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE HAVING THAT PERSEVERANCE AND WILL FIGHT ON.
>> IN YET ANOTHER BLOW TO HONG KONG'S DEMOCRATIC PROSPECTS,
CHINA RECENTLY OVERHAULED THE LEGISLATURE, SLASHING THE NUMBER
OF DIRECTLY ELECTED LAWMAKERS FROM 35 TO 20, VIRTUALLY HANDING
ALL CONTROL TO BEIJING. ALL TOLD, MORE THAN 10,000
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. TED IS NOW IN AUSTRALIA, WHERE
HE WILL CONTINUE TO LOBBY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO
PRESSURE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. IAN WAS SENTENCED TO A YEAR AND
A HALF IN PRISON, BUT ENDED UP BEING RELEASED AFTER JUST SIX
WEEK. GWYNNETH WAS ARRESTED ALONG WITH
46 OTHER ACTIVISTS FOR SUBVERSION UNDER THE NATIONAL
SECURITY LAW. SHE WAS DENIED BAIL AND NOW
FACES THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE IN PRISON.
>> WE'RE IN RURAL WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, KIND OF OUT IN THE
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO A TOWN
CALLED PHILIPS BERG. THERE'S A PRIVATE PRISON YOU
THERE THAT'S ABOUT TO CLOSE. THE MACHANNON VALLEY CORRECTION
CENTER WAS A PRISON FOR FEDERAL INMATES.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T RUN IT PAID A PRIVATE COMPANY TO RUN
IT, ABOUT $60 PER PRISONER PER DAY, MONEY THE COMPANY USED TO
TURN A PROFIT. AS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO
PHASE OUT ITS USE OF PRIVATE PRISONS, THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T
RENEW ITS CONTRACT THIS YEAR. WHEN IT CLOSED, IT TOOK NEARLY
300 JOBS WITH IT, JOBS WITH STARTING SALARIES MORE THAN FOUR
TIMES THE MINIMUM WAGE.
>> THE AREA HAS BEEN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED FOR
DECADES. THAT WAS A GOD SEND TO HAVE THAT
FACILITY HERE.
>> THE PRISON STAFF DIDN'T HAVE PERMISSION TO TALK TO THE PRESS,
BUT ONE GUARD AGREED TO SPEAK WITH US ANONYMOUSLY.
>> DO YOU COME FROM A CORRECTIONS BACKGROUND OR IS
THIS THE FIRST TIME YOU HAD DONE THIS KIND OF WORK?
>> IT'S THE FIRST TIME.
>> AND WERE THERE A LOT OF POEM LIKE THAT?
>> I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE INITIAL HIRING.
THERE AREN'T MANY JOBS LIKE THIS ONE.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE
INDUSTRIES ENTIRELY?
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF CHANGES ACROSS THE BOARD.
NOW I START AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LADDER AGAIN.
MAYBE IN 10 OR 12 YEARS, YOU GET BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW
FINANCIALLY.
>> ALONG WITH THE JOBS, THE PRISON GAME $500,000 IN TAX
REVENUE TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> THESE PRIVATE PRISON COMPANIES, ONE OF THEIR SORT OF
PR MOVES IS THEY TRY AND PORTRAY THEMSELVES AS SAVIORS OF THESE
LITTLE TOWNS. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT A PLACE LIKE
PHILIPSBERG, IT HAS A HIGH POVERTY RATE.
THE CITY ITSELF IS CONSTANTLY CASH STRAPPED.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THESE COMPANIES DO ENOUGH TO SAVE THESE CITIES
FROM THE UNDERLYING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATIONS THAT AFFLICT
THEM, BUT THEY DO JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM DEPENDENT.
PRIVATE PRISONS ARE A DISTINCTLY AMERICAN INVENTION AND A PRODUCT
OF THE REAGAN ERA.
>> EVENING. USUALLY I TALK WITH YOU FROM MY
OFFICE IN THE WEST WING OF THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT TONIGHT THERE'S
SOMETHING SPECIAL TO TALK ABOUT.
>> WHILE THE WAR ON DRUGS SENT MILLIONS TO PRISON, REGANOMICS
CALLED FOR PRIVATIZING AS MUCH AS GOVERNMENT AS POSSIBLE.
>> FOUNDED WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND.
TO PROVIDE AN INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVE TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS OF THE EXISTING
CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION SYSTEM.
>> PRIVATE PRISON COMPANIES SAY THEY DO JUST AS GOOD A JOB AS
LOCKING PEOPLE UP AS THE GOVERNMENT DOES, ONLY THEY DO IT
MORE CHEAPLY AND EFFICIENTLY. BUT CRITICS SAY THEY ONLY MAKE A
PROFIT BY CUTTING COSTS ON BASICS LIKE FOOD AND HEALTH CARE
AND THAT THAT LEADS TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
TODAY, THE INDUSTRY IS WORTH MORE THAN $5 BILLION, BUT IT'S
ALSO IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.
>> SO WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE PRIVATE PRISON INDUSTRY, THEY'RE
GENERALLY ONLY TALKING ABOUT TWO COMPANIES.
IT'S HARD TO GET INFORMATION OUT OF THESE COMPANIES DIRECTLY, BUT
LUCKILY THEY'RE PUBLICLY TRADED. THE STORY THAT THEY TELL IS NOT
A VERY GOOD ONE. PUBLIC OPPOSITION HAS BECOME SO
STRONG THAT IT'S KWOMP STRONG THAT IT'S KWOCOMPROMISIN
THEIR ABILITY TO FUNCTION AS BUSINESSES.
THIS IS THE LATEST REPORT. IN THESE REPORTS, THEY HAVE TO
OUTLINE THE RISKS THAT THEY'RE FACING.
FIRST, MAJOR POLICY CHANGES THREATEN THE COMPANY'S BOTTOM
LINE START, PRESIDENT BIDEN ORDERING THE DOJ NOT TO RENEW
ANY PRIVATE PRISON CONTRACTS. THEN THERE'S THE COMPANY'S DEBT
WHICH HAS BALLOONED MORE THAN THREE FOLD IN THE LAST TEN
YEARS. IT'S LOST FINANCING FROM SEVERAL
BIG BANKS AND PENSION FUNDS. SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN TAKEN
TOGETHER? YOU HAVE A COMPANY FACING
GROWING OPPOSITION, RAPIDLY LOSING CONTRACTS, BALLOONING
DEBT. THAT'S A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.
>> THE MOVEMENT AGAINST PRIVATE PRISONS ALONGSIDE THE LARGER
MOVEMENT AGAINST MASS INCARCERATION, ONE OF ITS
BIGGEST VICTORIES CAME WHEN IT SUCCESSFULLY PRESSURED BANKS TO
DIVERT FROM THE SFRI. MORGAN SIMON IS PART OF THAT
MOVEMENT. SHE'S AN IMPACT INVESTOR.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO THE OWNERS ARE OF GEOGROUP AND COR
CIVIC, THE TWO LARGEST ARE VANGUARD AND BLACKROCK.
FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, THAT MIGHT MEAN THAT THEIR RETIREMENT FUND
IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THOSE ENTITIES AND A LOT OF US MIGHT
OWN PRISONS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.
>> I COULD HAVE MONEY FROM MY 401(k) GOING TO ONE OF THEM?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHERE SOMETIMES WHEN
WE'RE PUSHING ON POLITICIANS TO TAKE ACTIONS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT
OURSELVES, TOO. THAT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS
LOOKING AT COULD I BANK WITH A COMMUNITY BLANK OR CREDIT UNION?
COULD I GO TO MY HR DIRECTOR AND SAY, HEY, IS THERE A SOCIAL
OPTION WE COULD HAVE ON THIS RETIREMENT FUND?
>> LAST YEAR, COR CIVIC SUED SIMON FOR MISINFORMATION.
THE SUIT WAS DISMISSED A FEW MONTHS LATER AND IS NOW UNDER
APPEAL.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK COR CIVIC SUED YOU?
>> I THINK THAT THE IDEA THAT IT IS OKAY TO LOCK PEOPLE UP FOR
PROFIT IS THREATENED BY PEOPLE LIKE ME.
POLICY OR MONEY WERE KIND OF THE TWO MAIN LEVERS THAT WE HAVE TO
MAKE CHANGE. AND I JUST CHOSE THE PATH OF
MONEY.
>> CORE CIVIC AND THE GEOGROUP GAVE US STATEMENTS WHERE THEY
DEFENDED THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THEY PROVIDE AND ACCUSED
ACTIVISTS OF SPREADING FALSE NARRATIVES ABOUT THEM.
BOTH SAID THEY DON'T PLAY A ROLE IN SETTING POLICIES.
NEVERTHELESS, THEY FACE A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
WOULD FAR SEE THEM GONE?
>> EXPANDING OUR CULTURAL STATE AND --
>> CONGRESSWOMAN IONA PRESLEY INTRODUCED THE PEOPLE'S JUSTICE
GUARANTEE, A RESOLUTION THAT, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS, WOULD
MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROFIT OFF OF INCARCERATION IN ANY WAY.
SO THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU INTRODUCED, IF ENACTED, WOULD
EFFECTIVELY PUT THESE COMPANIES OUT OF BUSINESS.
IN YOUR VIEW, THAT'S THE INTENTION?
>> YEAH. GOOD, YEAH.
NO, ABSOLUTELY.
>> JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
>> LET ME CONTEXTUALIZE THIS. WHEN YOU'RE INCENTIVIZED BY
PROFIT, YOU DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE
SERVICES. SO NOT ONLY ARE YOU PROFITING
OVER PROVIDING THE MOST BASIC OF SERVICES, BUT THEN ALSO THERE'S
NO EMPATHY. SO IT'S JUST EXPLOITIVE ALL THE
WAY AROUND.
>> THESE COMPANIES SAY, WELL, WE DON'T MAKE THE POLICIES WHO GETS
INCARCERATED OR WHO DOESN'T. WE ARE SIMPLY AN INSTRUMENT OF
GOVERNMENT TO ENACT THOSE POLICIES.
>> THE THING IS, THERE IS A COMPLICITNESS IN THAT.
YOU'RE SORT OF TRYING TO IT BOTH WAYS.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE NOT THE DRIVER OF IT, BUT YOU'RE NOT
WORKING ACTIVELY TO DISMANTLE IT.
NONE OF THIS IS NAIL NONE OF THIS IS NATURALLY
OCCURRING. OPPRESSION, CONFINEMENT,
EXPLOITATION. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN LEGISLATED.
>> THE PRIVATE PRISON INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES IS IN
SERIOUS TROUBLE. BUT THEY'RE FINDING WAYS TO
ADOPT, FIGHT BACK, SURVIVE IN SOME CASES ACTUALLY THRIVE.
ONE WAY THEY'VE DONE THAT IS TO FOCUS ON A POPULATION THAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS STILL WILLING TO LOCK UP IN FOR-PROFIT
FACILITIES. IMMIGRANTS.
8 OUT OF 10 IMMIGRANTS IN I.C.E. CUSTODY ARE IN PRIVATE DETENTION
CENTERS. THAT MEANS FACILITIES LIKE THIS
ONE ARE MORE VALUABLE TO THE BUSINESS THAN EVER.
THE I.C.E. PROCESSING CENTER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OWNED AND
OPERATED BY THE GEOGROUP IS ONE OF THE MOST LUCRATIVE DETENTION
CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY. IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST
INFAMOUS. SEVERAL DETAINEES HAVE DIED
THERE. WHEN FEDERAL INSPECTORS VISITED
THE CITY IN 2018, THEY FOUND AGRAJUS VIOLATIONS.
AT THE TIME, THE GEOGROUP DISPUTED O OF THE INSPECTOR'S
FINDINGS. IN THE 2 1/2 YEARS THAT JOSE WAS
DETAINED, HE FILED SEVERAL GRIEVANCES ALLEGING INSTANCES OF
ABUSE AND MEDICAL SNETH. ABUSE AND MEDICAL SNENEGLECT.
.HE SAYS ONCE AFTER A SURGICAL PROCEDURE, STAFF FAILED TO CLEAN
HIS WOUNDS FOR DAYS. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> HE SAYS HE FINALLY GOT ATTENTION, BUT ONLY AFTER HE GOT
IN TOUCH WITH THE MEXICAN CONSULATE, WHICH COMPLAINED ON
HIS BEHALF. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> IN A STATEMENT, I.C.E. SAID THEY ENSURE DETAINEES ARE
TREATED HUMANELY AND PROVIDED MEDICAL CARE.
THE GEO GROUP SAYS THEY STRONGLY DENY THESE ALLEGATIONS.
IN 2019, RIGHT WHEN CONTRACTS FOR ATOLANTO WAS DUE TO RUN OUT,
CALIFORNIA PASSED A LAW BANNING NEW CONTRACTS FOR PRIVATE
DETENTION CENTERS OF ANY KIND. SO THE COMPANY MOVED QUICKLY
JUST 13 DAYS BEFORE THE BAN WAS SET TO TAKE EFFECT.
GEOSIGNED A NEW NEW, 1R5-YEAR GEOSIGNED A NEW NEW, 1R5-Y5-YEA
CONTRACT. OTOLONTO WAS NOT ONLY STILL
OPEN, IT WAS NOW THE LARGEST IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTER IN
THE NATION. THEY NEEDED THE COOPERATION OF
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY ENCOUNTERED RESISTANCE FROM
STEVANA EVANS.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GEOAND THE
CITY?
>> I THINK BETWEEN GEO AND THE CITY, IT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
GEOGETS WHAT THEY NEED AND THEY GIVE THE CITY A FEW CRUMBS AND
THE CITY IS HAPPY WITH THAT. BUT WHAT IS THAT WORTH?
>> AT ONE POINT, EVANS REFUSED TO SIGN SOME PAPERS THAT GEO
NEEDED HER TO SIGN. SHE SAID THE COMPANY FLEW ITS
CEO MORE THAN 5,000 MILES.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT MEETING?
>> IT WAS VERY AWKWARD AND HEATED.
HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULDN'T AGREE TO THIS.
HE'S ALWAYS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY AND THEY DONATE
MONEY THERE. HE'S BEAT RED AND HE TELLS ME,
IF YOU DON'T SIGN THESE LETTERS TODAY, THEN I'M NOT GOING TO PAY
YOU ANY MORE.
>> THE COMPANY EVENTUALLY GOT WHAT IT NEEDED IN THE CITY AND
SPENT SOME MONEY IN THE PROCESS. DURING LAST YEAR'S ELECTIONS,
THE GEO GROUP PAID MONEY TO A LOCAL PAC.
THAT PAC, IN TURN, SPENT MORE THAN $35,000 TO BACK THOSE WHO
BACKED THE GROUP IN THE PAST. THE COMPANY DIDN'T RESPOND TO
QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS POLITICAL DONATIONS.
>> FOR A PLACE LIKE THIS, IS THAT A LOT OF MONEY?
>> MOST DEFINITELY. ME, A NEWCOMER, WON MY SEAT ON
$4,000. SO IS THAT A LOT OF MONEY?
HECK YA, IT IS.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FACT THAT GEODONATED THIS MONEY TO
EMPTY PACS AND SPENT MONEY ON BEHALF OF THESE COMPANIES.
>> THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
>> IF THEY HADN'T DONE THAT, WHATEVER THAT MONEY WAS SPENT
ON, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE FINE PRINT THAT SAYS THIS MESSAGE WAS
PAID FOR BY --
>> BY GEO.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO SAY THAT BECAUSE --
>> NO, NOT WITH SOME RANDOM PAC. THIS IS HOW THEY DO THIS IN ALL
SMALL CITIES, BUT THEY HAVE WITH SMALL POPULATIONS.
THEY DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO TO GET THEM IN.
>> IT MAY BE AN INDUSTRY IN DECLINE, BUT THE U.S. HAS MORE
PEOPLE IN FOR-PROFIT PRISONS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD. FOR OTOLONTO, I.C.E. IS THE
GROUP. PEPE WHO WAS THERE FOR 125 DAYS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO THIS PLACE?
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]