Kim has visited both to provide oversight, called for the closure of all private detention facilities, and joined a letter New Jersey’s congressional Democrats sent to Trump last month opposing the use of warehouses for immigrant detention.
Call for the closure of all private detention facilities.
Occurrences
Evidence
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U.S. Sen. Andy Kim grilled a fellow senator and nominee to be the next Department of Homeland Security secretary Wednesday about a warehouse the department purchased in Roxbury to house immigrant detainees. Kim, a Democrat, asked Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, during Mullin’s confirmation hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs whether it is fair for the department to open 'large-scale detention facilities' without local input. Roxbury officials have opposed the warehouse purchase and said they were not consulted about it.
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Senator Andy Kim joined his fellow Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee in demanding answers over reports that former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advisor Corey Lewandowski solicited personal payments from companies in exchange for government contracts. In a series of letters sent to DHS and contractors GEO Group and Salus Worldwide Solutions, the senators raised concerns that Lewandowski’s alleged conduct may violate federal bribery and ethics laws.
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On June 4, 2026, the Senate rejected the motion to waive budgetary discipline for Kim Amendment No. 5545, which would have provided appropriations for inspections of the Delaney Hall Detention Facility.
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The vote concerned Kim Amendment No. 5545 to fund inspections of Delaney Hall; the motion was rejected 46-53, and Kim voted yea.
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Kim joined committee Democrats seeking answers about alleged pay-to-play involving GEO Group, described as a major private prison company running DHS detention facilities.
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AP reported Delaney Hall opened May 1 as a 1,000-bed facility operated by a private prison company after ICE and GEO Group reached a $1 billion, 15-year deal.
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The Guardian reported Kim visited Delaney Hall, tried to de-escalate outside, was pepper-sprayed, and said the way to fix the facility was to shut it down.
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The Guardian reported Delaney Hall remained an ICE jail operated by GEO Group under a $1 billion, 15-year contract, with families and detainees alleging continuing problems.
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Executive Order 14148 lists EO 14006, the prior order restricting DOJ private criminal detention contracts, among revoked executive actions.
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On September 9, 2026, members of Congress reported an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, described as operated by GEO Group, and said ICE and GEO Group had responsibility for people held there in federal custody.
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GovInfo bill text shows S. 5325 was introduced by Senator Booker for himself and Senator Kim and referred to committee; the bill would require DHS to cease all immigration detention operations at Delaney Hall and terminate any operating contract.
Assessments
Kim took same-term federal actions against private immigration detention, including co-introducing S. 5325 to close Delaney Hall, offering an inspection-related amendment, joining oversight letters, questioning DHS-related detention expansion, and publicly calling for Delaney Hall to be shut down. But the promised outcome was closure of all private detention facilities, and the evidence shows no nationwide closure occurred; Delaney Hall remained open and privately operated during his Senate term. Because there was serious legislative and oversight effort without delivery of the promised outcome, this is non-delivery with an effort badge.
Andy Kim repeatedly opposed private detention facilities and advanced oversight efforts, including questioning DHS nominees and pushing an amendment tied to inspections, but the record provided shows no closure of all private detention facilities. The available evidence supports a serious same-term effort that fell short of the promised outcome.
The evidence shows that Senator Andy Kim took actions such as co-signing investigation letters and publicly questioning a DHS nominee about private detention facilities. However, these actions fall short of achieving the specific promise to close all private detention facilities, as there is no documentation of legislative passage, executive action, or closure of such facilities. He made serious attempts within his capacity, but the promised outcome was not delivered.