Daniel Herrera Carbajal
ICT
A tribe in Kansas is facing backlash after its economic development corporation, Prairie Band LLC, approved a $30 million contract to design an immigrant detention facility for the federal government.
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the corporation’s board of directors announced Tuesday, Dec. 9, their decision to fire senior leaders within the corporation. However, the tribe and the tribally owned corporation stopped short of saying they had also canceled the contract to design a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility.
A Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation spokesperson told ICT the tribe is “reviewing their options to exit the contract.”
“Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Prairie Band LLC understand the concerns raised about a recently awarded Department of Homeland Security planning contract that involves feasibility studies and technical assessments,” the tribe and corporation said in a joint statement. “As a sovereign Nation, our values guide the decisions we make, and we acknowledge that this contract does not align with those principles.
“We take this matter seriously and in response, Prairie Band LLC and Tribal Council have made the decision to terminate senior members of the LLC’s leadership team. Moving forward, we are also taking a closer look at the internal review and approval process for federal contracts.”
After concerns were initially raised about the federal contract, Prairie Band LLC issued a statement defending itself saying it wasn’t actually building the ICE detention center but only designing it.
“We are not involved in housing, detention or enforcement activities,” said the corporation. “Our role is strictly technical and planning focused.”
Tara Zhaaabowekwe Houska, Anishinaabe, an attorney and climate activist, told ICT she was “shocked and appalled” when she heard the news of the Prairie Band LLC’s detention facility contract.
“There are many ways that our nations can financially succeed and survive in this capitalist framework but being in the business of separating Indigenous families should never be one of them,” she said. “Regardless of political spectrum, it feels like a of Native folks are opposed to Native folks locking up Native folks south of the colonial border.”
Prairie Band LLC’s contract start date was Nov. 29 and was scheduled to end March 4, 2026, according to usaspending.gov. The contract is currently awarded but no payments have been made so far.
Jacob Wamego, CEO of Prairie Band LLC, said in a statement, which was later removed from the company’s website, that Prairie Band LLC provides “professional design services and technical due diligence for federal projects.” He said the company maintains an “appropriate separation between political governance and business activities.”
“This structure allows us to focus on delivering professional, accountable services without being influenced by governmental decision-making, ensuring transparency and integrity in all our operations,” he said.