# Citrus County Weighs ICE Detainee Housing

Citrus County commissioners are scheduled to consider authorizing jail operator CoreCivic to negotiate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over housing up to 119 federal detainees at the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto. The proposal is not a contract: the county would retain approval authority over final terms. The county estimates approximately $370,000 in annual impact-fee revenue at full capacity, while reimbursement rates, staffing responsibilities, operational requirements, and oversight remain unresolved.

- **Why this matters:** The proposal could create a federal detention-services opportunity for CoreCivic and associated operating or transportation needs, but the county has not approved a final agreement or specified total ICE payments.
- Procurement teams evaluating the opportunity should distinguish the proposed impact-fee revenue from any per-detainee reimbursement, which is not specified, and account for the unresolved staffing and oversight terms.
- The county is also considering a $15,500 assessment against CoreCivic for September staffing performance under its existing jail operations contract, making staffing obligations and performance remedies relevant to the proposed arrangement.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Published:** October 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- Citrus County Board of County Commissioners
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Citrus County Sheriff’s Office

### Vendors
- CoreCivic (Incumbent jail operator and proposed negotiating agent)

### Key Quotes
> This initial step of authorizing CoreCivic to negotiate with ICE does not bind the County in any way.
> — Russell “Rusty” Washburn, Managing Director of CoreCivic

> The County considers these positions to be critical in operating the detention facility.
> — Steve Howard, Citrus County Administrator

### Sources
- [County weighs housing ICE detainees at jail | Crime & Courts | chronicleonline.com](https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/crime_and_courts/county-weighs-housing-ice-detainees-at-jail/article_8d033d97-0d7d-5848-8276-bbb2b63d4e44.html) - chronicleonline.com