ICE and CoreCivic set 2026 opening for 1,600-bed Appleton immigration lockup
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and private prison operator CoreCivic plan to open a 1,600-bed immigration detention center at the former Appleton, Minnesota, prison before the end of 2026, and ICE says it will put the facility into active use rather than holding it in reserve.[1]
ICE intends to fold the Appleton lockup into its national detention network, primarily housing pre-removal detainees and transfers, though officials expect average occupancy to run below the 1,600-bed maximum.[1] The federal contract will let ICE scale populations up or down while continuing to pay CoreCivic base fees even when many beds are unused.[1]
Appleton and Swift County leaders lobbied federal officials for the reopening and say the facility will bring jobs, a broader tax base, and local service contracts to the rural area.[1] Immigrant-rights groups and some state lawmakers countered with fresh objections about conditions, the distance from Twin Cities legal resources, and Minnesota's expanding role in federal detention.[1]
The Department of Homeland Security also announced it will open the federal facility at the former Appleton prison site, a move that local reporting says confirms the plan is proceeding.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, ICE officials confirmed they intend to open and use the Appleton facility as an immigration detention center before the end of 2026, not merely keep it in reserve.
- The 1,600‑bed Appleton facility is planned to be integrated into ICE’s national detention network and is expected to hold primarily pre‑removal detainees and transfers, with likely average occupancy below the 1,600‑bed maximum.
- Local Appleton and Swift County leaders said they lobbied for the facility’s reopening and emphasized anticipated economic benefits, including jobs, a broader tax base, and local service contracts.
- The report summarizes opposition from immigrant‑rights groups and some state lawmakers, who raised fresh concerns about conditions, the facility’s distance from Twin Cities legal resources, and Minnesota’s role in federal detention.
- The federal contract structure allows ICE to ramp detainee populations up or down and continues to pay CoreCivic base fees even when beds are underused, creating ongoing payments regardless of occupancy.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- ICE officials confirm they intend to open and use the Appleton facility as an immigration detention center before the end of 2026, not just keep it in reserve.
- The article details how Appleton will fit into ICE’s national detention network, including the types of detainees expected (e.g., pre‑removal, transfer from other regions) and likely average occupancy below the 1,600‑bed maximum.
- Local Appleton and Swift County leaders’ latest statements on anticipated economic impact (jobs, tax base, service contracts) and their role in lobbying for the facility’s reopening are included.
- The piece summarizes current political opposition from immigrant‑rights groups and some state lawmakers, including fresh quotes raising concerns about conditions, distance from the Twin Cities legal community, and Minnesota’s role in federal detention.
- It clarifies that the federal contract structure allows ICE to ramp population up or down and keep paying CoreCivic base fees even when beds are underused.