The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has purchased two CoreCivic immigration detention centers in California for $1.5 billion, raising questions about state oversight authority.

Both lockups had been open and housing immigrants while owned by CoreCivic.

CoreCivic will continue to manage the two detention centers after the sale under contract with ICE.

The Department of Homeland Security says the two jails are a crucial part of ICE’s detention center network out west. Purchasing them will ensure they remain open if state lawmakers pass legislation restricting the use of for-profit jails, a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.

California officials may find they have less power to conduct oversight of detention centers owned by the federal government, said Lauren-Brooke Eisen, senior director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program.