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ICE Detention Facility Opens in Western Minnesota
The Prairie Alliance for Human Dignity added a rally and press conference after reports said the 1,600-bed facility began holding its first detainees.
The Department of Homeland Security opened the Appleton Detention Facility on Monday, with local activists reporting that the first Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees have arrived at the 1,600-bed site in western Minnesota.
CoreCivic sold the facility to the federal government in August for $495.6 million, though the company had offered the same site to Minnesota for $75 million just one year earlier.
Appleton Mayor-elect Kevin Plemmons supports the facility, saying "our economy has struggled since the closure," citing more than 500 expected jobs; some residents worry about lost local tax revenue from federal property exemptions.
The Prairie Alliance for Human Dignity will hold a vigil and rally on Saturday at the Appleton Civic Center, calling for public oversight of the detention facility similar to models in other states.
Federal officials stated the facility will strengthen enforcement of immigration laws and support President Donald Trump's mass deportation mission, with the site expected to be fully operational by mid-2027.