Prairie Correctional Facility

Appleton, Minnesota, is preparing for the reopening of a CoreCivic facility under a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contract to house up to 1,600 immigrant detainees. The facility, sold to the Department of Homeland Security for $495.6 million, is expected to bring jobs and revenue to the town, which has faced economic decline since a previous prison closed in 2010. However, residents express mixed feelings, with concerns about protests and the ethical implications of immigration detention.

A former Minnesota private prison, Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, will reopen as an immigrant detention center under a CoreCivic federal contract starting in August 2026, housing 1,600 detainees by 2027 and generating $75 million annually.

CoreCivic has secured a five-year federal contract with ICE to reopen the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota, as an immigrant detention center holding up to 1,600 detainees. The $75 million annual contract aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to expand detention capacity for increased deportations, with operations expected to start in late 2024 and reach full capacity by 2027.

ICE is seeking to reopen a defunct 1,600-bed private prison in Appleton, Minnesota, with CoreCivic, the company previously responsible for its 2010 failure. Community organizers criticize the rushed process, citing errors in the contract and lack of local consultation, while public resistance remains strong due to recent ICE operations in the region.

Appleton’s private prison, Prairie Correctional Facility, is seeking job applicants for warden and security roles as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security considers the facility for immigration detention. CoreCivic, the prison’s owner, has posted job openings but has not finalized a contract with the agency. The facility, closed since 2010, has been identified as meeting ICE requirements for detaining immigrants.