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County attorney: GEO to cease operations at Lea County Correctional Facility on June 30, 2025, and letters describe potential sale
Summary
County attorney told commissioners GEO (formerly Wackenhut) has signaled intent to stop operations at the Lea County Correctional Facility on June 30, 2025; the New Mexico Corrections Department said it will stop sending inmates and move current state inmates by that date, and GEO referenced offers to sell the facility.
The Lea County attorney informed the commission on May 8 that GEO Group (formerly Wackenhut) has indicated it will cease operations at the Lea County Correctional Facility (LCCF) on June 30, 2025, and that the New Mexico Corrections Department intends to move state inmates out of the facility by that date.
The attorney summarized four letters the county received: a January 6, 2025 letter indicating GEO did not intend to extend the agreement beyond November 24, 2025 and offering to sell the facility for $240,000,000; a later GEO letter to the state indicating a possible sale price of $175,000,000; and a May 1, 2025 WARN Act notice from GEO stating it planned to cease operations on June 30, 2025. The county attorney said he had spoken with GEO but lacked personal knowledge of the state‑GEO negotiations and that the county planned to confirm intentions with GEO and the New Mexico Corrections Department.
The attorney said GEO listed roughly 312 employees at the facility on its website but the WARN notice cited 203 employees who would be affected. He advised the commission staff will discuss next steps, including the prospective employment of those affected workers and the deed’s reversionary provision (the land was deeded by the City of Hobbs and will revert to the city when the property ceases to be used as a jail or state prison).
The commission recorded the briefing and did not take immediate action; staff said they would confirm closure plans with GEO and the state and coordinate conversations with Hobbs regarding the deed reversion and workforce impacts.
