CoreCivic, the nation’s largest private prison operator, has expressed interest in turning its shuttered Leavenworth jail into an immigration detention center, according to documents obtained by the ACLU. This move has raised concerns that the facility could become a hub for mass deportation efforts under the incoming Trump administration. The Leavenworth Detention Center previously operated as a pre-trial detention facility for federal crime detainees in the Midwest and faced issues of violent incidents.
Despite CoreCivic’s assurance of providing humane care and meeting critical needs efficiently, local leaders and rights advocates have opposed the conversion to an immigration detention center. The ACLU obtained documents revealing CoreCivic’s response to ICE’s request for potential detention space in multiple states, including Kansas. Concerns have been raised about the potential expansion of ICE detention capacity under the new administration.
Recent investigations into the Leavenworth Detention Center revealed instances of violence, drug use, and understaffing. CoreCivic faced lawsuits and settlements related to unsafe conditions and illegal actions in the past. Efforts to convert the facility into an ICE detention center have been met with opposition from various stakeholders, including Leavenworth County commissioners.
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Photo credit kansasreflector.com
