Overview

The Cascade County Detention Center near Great Falls is the only county jail in Montana authorized to hold ICE detainees for longer than 72 hours. The facility’s financial model is built on federal and state inmate contracts, which comprise more than 70% of the jail’s $14 million annual budget. Federal inmates generate $55 more per day than state inmates, making immigration detention a critical revenue stream.

Key Details

Contract Structure:

• A 2021 contract with the U.S. Marshals Service obligates the county to house federal detainees, including those “awaiting a hearing on their immigration status or deportation.” ICE is listed as an authorized committing agency.
• In October 2025, the county signed a new CBP contract at $115/day per detainee, running through September 29, 2026 with three renewal options. The contract ceiling is $20,700/year (based on an estimated 180 bed-days/year).
• As of July 2025, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter was negotiating a separate direct ICE contract at a proposed $150/day rate, leveraging the jail’s monopoly position as Montana’s only ICE-eligible facility. No finalized ICE contract has been confirmed.

Budget Dependency:

• Inmate contracts provide over 70% of the jail’s $14M annual budget.
• In July 2025, county officials were discussing a “new model” for jail budgeting given the growing dependence on federal detainee revenue.

Community Opposition:

• In July 2025, Great Falls residents asked the county not to cooperate with ICE, but the existing contract obligates continued holding.
• In February 2026, Great Falls residents called on the city commission to pass an immigration resolution similar to Helena’s, but the city has not acted.

287(g) Status:

• Cascade County was listed as “pending” for a 287(g) agreement in 2025 but does not appear on ICE’s public list of 287(g) partners.

Why This Matters

Cascade County is the structural chokepoint for ICE detention in Montana. As the only facility that can hold detainees long-term, it has outsized leverage but also outsized dependency on federal revenue. The sheriff’s push for a higher-rate direct ICE contract ($150/day vs. $115/day) shows how budget distress creates a financial incentive to expand immigration detention.

Sources

• In Cascade County, immigration detention is a revenue generator for the jail — Montana Free Press (Jul 2025)
• Cascade County inks new contract with U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Montana Free Press (Oct 2025)
• County officials continuing jail budget discussion, need for new model, possibility of ICE contract — The Electric (Jul 2025)
• Locals ask county not to cooperate with ICE — The Electric (Jul 2025)
• Great Falls residents call on city commission to act — Montana Free Press (Feb 2026)