The Government Plans New Immigration Facility Near Airport
The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to establish a 528-bed detention facility for migrant families and unaccompanied minors adjacent to an airport hub, a development that could expedite deportation processes.
Located in Alexandria, Louisiana, the new facility aims to address logistical complications that arise when children are relocated from foster homes and shelters nationwide. These issues became particularly evident last year when Guatemalan children were abruptly awakened and forced to endure long waits on an airport tarmac, significantly hampering their timely transfer to Harlingen, Texas.
A federal judge intervened to halt the deportations, yet the chaotic situation underscored the dire need for designated spaces to accommodate families and children close to the airport. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has labeled the Alexandria facility as a “holding area,” asserting that individuals could expect to stay for only a few days at most.
Despite these claims, immigration advocates have raised alarms that children could end up held for more extended periods, echoing concerns associated with other federal immigration detention centers. Critics argue that this facility signifies a troubling shift in how the government treats young migrants.
Lecia Welch, chief legal counsel for the nonprofit Children’s Rights, noted the potential risks tied to this facility, asserting that it represents an unprecedented expansion of the deportation framework. Advocates worry about increased surveillance and the implications for children’s welfare in such settings.
ICE Partners with Private Contractors for Facility Operations
Unaccompanied minors arriving in the U.S. without parents or guardians are required by law to be placed in state-licensed shelters or foster care rather than ICE facilities. These placements are managed by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, though officials confirmed that this agency will not oversee operations at the Alexandria facility.
Instead, the facility will be administered by the nonprofit arm of private prison contractor LaSalle Corrections, according to Ralph Hennessy, executive director of Air Parks England. He revealed that the facility could be operational as soon as August.
ICE officials reportedly finalized a contract last month to develop the facility on a former military base near Alexandria International Airport, situated approximately 175 miles northwest of New Orleans. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, the site will serve as a 72-hour holding center for immigrants awaiting deportation.
Originally, Compass Connections, a Texas-based nonprofit specializing in shelters for unaccompanied immigrant children, was poised to help manage the facility. However, its president, Sonya Thompson, indicated that the organization is no longer involved, although further details were not disclosed.
Facility Dubbed a Humanitarian Effort by Officials
During a recent public board meeting, airport officials characterized the facility as a “humanitarian effort” for families choosing “voluntary repatriation.” Immigration advocates argue that many families and minors make this decision under duress and often lack clarity about their options.
Hennessy stated that the facility is intended for individuals wishing to return to their home countries as families. Located adjacent to the nation’s largest deportation hub, the Alexandria facility is expected to handle significant volumes; over 4,400 immigration flights arrived at or departed from the airport in 2025, per data from ICE Flight Monitor, an initiative of Human Rights First.
ICE planning documents explicitly state that families and children in this facility will remain under ICE’s legal custody and can only be released based on ICE directives. Records also reveal that officials instructed contractors to avoid using terms like prisoners, detainees, or inmates when referencing families. Furthermore, ICE mandated that transportation methods for families and unaccompanied children should not include bars or cages, and that individuals should be allowed to wear their own clothing.
Private Firms Manage Additional ICE Detention Centers
LaSalle Corrections, which operates various private prisons and federal immigration detention centers throughout the South, is also responsible for the newly established ICE holding facility. Among its other locations is the Louisiana Lockup within the state’s maximum-security Angola prison.
The contract for the new ICE facility has been awarded to LaSalle’s nonprofit arm, the LaSalle Family Foundation, which offers chaplaincy and educational services within correctional facilities, according to tax records.
Tim Krupewski, LaSalle’s chief financial officer, confirmed that the company would oversee operations at the new facility, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. A spokesperson for LaSalle declined to comment further on the arrangement.
Recent reports highlight concerns regarding LaSalle’s facilities. Since April, there have been two reported deaths of detainees in an ICE facility operated by the company. Additionally, the Winn Correctional Center was cited in June for violating standards related to environmental health, safety, food services, medical care, and more, as detailed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
