As federal spending on immigrant enforcement and detention soars , a private prison company is advertising detention officer positions at vacant prisons in Watonga and Sayre .

Tennessee-based CoreCivic , whose stock has risen 52% since President Donald Trump’s victory last November, is offering $27 per hour to detention officer recruits as it negotiates contracts with the federal government to reopen the idle facilities. That’s $5.50 per hour more than what Oklahoma pays its entry-level correctional officers.

No law enforcement or corrections experience is necessary to apply, according to the postings. Applicants must be 21 or older, have a clean driving record and hold a high school diploma or GED.

The Watonga prison, which housed out-of-state prisoners from Hawaii, Wi

See Full Page