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ICE detention facility to open in Appleton, Minnesota
The Department of Homeland Security will be opening a new detention center in an old prison in western Minnesota. FOX 9's Mike Manzoni has more.
APPLETON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Saying it hopes to "carry out the American people’s mandate for mass deportations," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed it has begun operating at the site of a former private prison in Appleton, Minnesota.
ICE facility opens in Appleton
What we know:
DHS says that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had previously been exploring the location, which has been vacant since 2010, as a site to expand its operations involving federal immigration enforcement.
Officials with ICE have previously said they had hoped the facility would be running by mid-2027, with a potential capacity of up to 1,600 detainees.
Dig deeper:
The center will be operated by CoreCivic, a company that sold the property to the U.S. government earlier this year for $495.6 million.
CoreCivic has said the company expects to make a $75 million return in revenue from the Appleton site annually, under its five-year contract.
What they're saying:
A statement provided to FOX 9 from a DHS spokesperson confirms that the location is now operational and in use.
"DHS opened the Appleton Detention Facility on November 9 to strengthen America’s ability to enforce its immigration laws and carry out the American people’s mandate for mass deportations," the statement says. "The site gives ICE immediate capacity to detain and remove those who have no legal right to remain, protecting American communities and restoring the integrity of our borders without waiting years for new construction.
"Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and ensuring we have resources to carry out President Trump’s mission."
Big picture view:
Appleton is located in far western Minnesota, just about 20 miles east of the South Dakota border. The prison is located on the southside of the city off of Highway 119.
The Source: Information provided by the Department of Homeland Security and previous FOX 9 reporting.