** Shares of U.S. prison operators surge in premarket trading after Republican Donald Trump is elected U.S. president
** Trump recaptures the White House by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, Edison Research projects
** Geo Group GEO.N jumps 25.8%, while CoreCivic CXW.N rises 24.5% premarket
** Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration if elected for a second term, which would benefit prison operators
** GEO set to open at more than a five-year high, and CXW set to open at more than a four-year high, if gains hold
** As of last close, GEO up ~39%, CXW down ~6% YTD
(Reporting by Ragini Mathur)
((Ragini.Mathur@thomsonreuters.com;))