North Carolina Set to Establish First Immigration Detention Center
A former federal prison in eastern North Carolina is likely to transform into the state’s first dedicated federal immigration detention center. Reports from The New York Times, citing internal documents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reveal plans for this development.
ICE intends to open a detention facility this fall at the former Rivers Correctional Facility in Winton, operated by the private prison company GEO Group. This facility is expected to accommodate around 1,400 detainees, potentially positioning it as one of the largest immigration detention centers on the East Coast.
This announcement comes shortly after a protracted legal dispute and a public campaign prompted the closure of Florida’s controversial “Alligator Alcatraz,” a facility that has been criticized across the political spectrum.
In a display of opposition, dozens of activists gathered at the North Carolina state Capitol in Raleigh earlier this week, calling on state leaders to reject any efforts aimed at detaining immigrants in the state.
Though Democratic Governor Josh Stein did not attend Wednesday’s protests, he expressed his opposition later in the week. He took to social media to clarify, “I did not approve this deal because the ICE detention center planned for Winton is not state-run. Like many other North Carolinians, I don’t want that in our state. ICE and Border Patrol have not earned our trust.”
A spokesperson for the state prison system indicated that, as the facility is not state-operated, the state has no authority over its operations. Efforts to reach ICE and GEO Group for comment have yielded no response, according to WRAL.
Growing Opposition Amidst Detailed Plans
Protesters in Raleigh have voiced concerns that the new facility could amplify the immigration enforcement strategy implemented during the Trump administration. Citing records from the American Civil Liberties Union, they noted that the Rivers facility was under consideration for reopening. GEO Group has a history of scrutiny for alleged instances of violence at its other facilities across various states.
The Rivers facility was operational as a federal prison until its closure in 2021. A 2016 study from the U.S. Department of Justice identified it as having the highest rates of inmate-on-inmate violence, along with significant incidents of sexual misconduct and contraband issues relative to other privately run federal prisons.
Iliana Santillane, an immigrant advocate and founder of Braava NC, addressed the protesters, stating, “We have a choice about what we want North Carolina to be. Are we going to be a place that responds to human suffering with more walls, more detention, more segregation? Or will we choose dignity?”
The ongoing measures to tighten immigration enforcement have serious implications; over 50 immigrants have died in detention centers awaiting deportation since President Trump took office last year, with the former president being a substantial supporter of GEO Group, which has received lucrative government contracts.
Long-Term Plans for Reopening Rivers Facility
The potential reopening of the Rivers facility has been under discussion for nearly a year. In August 2025, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration was considering the reopening of certain prisons as part of an initiative to expand immigrant detention capacity. During an investor call in the same month, GEO Group Executive Chairman George Zory mentioned that the company was in negotiations with ICE regarding reopening Rivers.
Before closing in 2021, Rivers employed around 300 workers in Hartford County, following an executive order from President Biden to phase out contracts with privately managed prisons. Concerns persist that the new facility could draw staff away from state prisons that are already facing staffing shortages, impacting employment in northeastern North Carolina.
However, local residents have expressed skepticism regarding the promise of new employment opportunities. Caroline Stephenson, a Hertford County local, stated, “Rivers is not economic development. It’s not what we need. Hertford County needs jobs that don’t profit from the pain and suffering of others.”
Increasing Immigration Enforcement in North Carolina
The establishment of the new detention center comes amid heightened federal immigration enforcement efforts in North Carolina. Data from the Deportation Data Project indicates that ICE has arrested over 6,300 individuals in the state since President Trump assumed office in January 2025, marking nearly double the arrests during the previous two years under the Biden administration.
This development follows the passage of the North Carolina Border Protection Act, which negates Governor Stein’s veto. The legislation aims to enhance cooperation between ICE and various state agencies, including the State Highway Patrol and the Department of Adult Corrections.
Proponents of the legislation argue that it will establish consistent standards statewide and bolster public safety. In contrast, detractors contend that it will escalate immigration enforcement and detention efforts throughout North Carolina.
Demi Dowdy, spokesperson for House Speaker Destin Hall, asserted, “It is common sense for law enforcement to work together to identify and remove individuals who are in this country illegally and who have committed crimes. Thanks to these efforts, we have removed dangerous criminals from our streets, making North Carolina communities safer as a result.”
