A few weeks ago, Citizens Bank announced it is ending its credit facilities with CoreCivic and The GEO Group, the two largest for-profit prison companies in the US. These two corporations operate dozens of ICE detention centers across the country where migrants are detained, with multiple reports of abusive conditions. Protests at bank branches across the country, including in Acton, put pressure on the Bank’s management to take this action.
De-ICE Citizens Bank Coalition, formed about a year ago, included dozens of local groups affiliated with the Indivisible movement. As reported in the Acton Exchange on January 31, 2026, “…nineteen Acton and area activists stood out in 8 degree weather in front of the Citizens Bank on Rte 2A to protest Citizens Bank funding for building and operation of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prisons. The standout was part of a coordinated, simultaneous action taking place at about 40 northeast Citizen branches.” The movement grew with the help of two more Acton Citizen Bank standouts and three standouts in Littleton organized by an Acton resident. During these standouts, protesters spoke to bank customers; many were shocked by their bank’s funding of ICE prisons, and some agreed to write letters expressing their concerns and threatening to remove their funds unless Citizen ceased its support.
The de-ICE Citizens Coalition, in a communication to its supporters, wrote this past week, “This is a win, and a real one. It is the product of months of sustained organizing: rallies, faith-led actions, pledges by churches, mosques, synagogues, and individuals, votes of city councils to move money, more than $380 million in announced deposit withdrawals, and thousands of community members from more than 175 groups across 17 states who showed up again and again, refusing to let this effort go quiet.”
Citizen Bank explained the stoppage of credit extension. “This is a business decision based on changed commercial circumstances and does not reflect any change in our view regarding these companies’ business models or operations.” The Coalition is asking Citizens to at least commit to renouncing future investments in private prisons by making a public statement to end all banking relationships with the private prison industry as have other major banks.
What is Next?
According to the de-Ice Citizens Coalition, they are entering a period of reflection and regrouping which will include monitoring Citizens Bank private prison investments and taking additional action as necessary. For a local angle, Acton Exchange recently reviewed the changing landscape of immigration enforcement.
Andy Platt has lived in Acton for 50 years.
