New Immigrant Detention Facility Opens in Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Trump administration has announced the opening of a 528-bed detention facility for immigrant families and unaccompanied children in Alexandria, Louisiana. Located near a major airport hub, the facility aims to streamline the deportation process.
This strategic location is expected to alleviate logistical challenges that arose previously, such as the difficulties in transporting children from various foster homes and shelters across the country. Last year, a chaotic scenario unfolded when children from Guatemala were awakened in the middle of the night and left stranded on an airport tarmac for hours, leading to their abrupt transport to Harlingen, Texas.
A federal judge intervened during that episode, halting the deportations. Yet, it underscored the lack of nearby facilities where authorities could accommodate families and children prior to their flights. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) characterizes the Alexandria facility as a “holding area” rather than a traditional detention center, asserting that individuals will typically stay there for no more than a few days.
However, some immigration advocates voice concerns over the potential for children to be held for extended periods, akin to conditions at other federal immigration detention centers. They also express apprehension about surveillance, suggesting that this facility marks a troubling change in the government’s treatment of immigrant children.
“This represents an unprecedented expansion of the deportation system,” commented Lecia Welch, chief legal counsel at the nonprofit organization Children’s Rights. “There’s considerable risk associated with how this facility may operate.”
Private Prison Contractors to Manage Facility Operations
While unaccompanied minors in the United States are legally required to be placed in state-licensed shelters or foster care programs, the Alexandria facility will not host such children under ICE supervision. Instead, those minors will be cared for by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement in approved shelters.
The new facility, situated on a former military base adjacent to Alexandria International Airport—approximately 175 miles from New Orleans—will be operated by the nonprofit branch of LaSalle Corrections. Ralph Hennessy, executive director of Air Parks England, indicated that it could start welcoming individuals as soon as August.
ICE signed a contract for the facility’s construction just last month. Initially, Compass Connections, a Texas-based nonprofit that manages a shelter for unaccompanied immigrant children, was invited to collaborate on the project, but the company’s president, Sonya Thompson, later stated that they would no longer be participating, without providing further details.
Facility Described as Humanitarian Effort
During a public board meeting, airport officials described the facility as a “humanitarian effort,” intended for families who choose to be “voluntarily repatriated.” However, immigration advocates argue that the decision to return is often made under pressure or misunderstanding of the available options.
“These individuals voluntarily wish to return to their home countries with their families,” Hennessy explained to The Associated Press.
Located next to the nation’s largest deportation hub, the Alexandria International Airport saw over 4,400 immigration flights in 2025, as noted by data from ICE Flight Monitor, a project of Human Rights First. ICE planning documents clarify that individuals housed at the facility “are under the legal custody of ICE and may only be released at the agency’s discretion.”
Moreover, ICE has instructed that those at the facility should not be referred to as prisoners, detainees, or inmates. Officials mandated that no bars or cages should be employed in the transportation of families or unaccompanied children, and the facility is encouraged to be accommodating, allowing families to “wear their own clothes.”
LaSalle Corrections’ Role in ICE Detention Operations
LaSalle Corrections, based in Louisiana, operates several private prisons and federal immigration detention centers throughout the southern United States, including the Louisiana Lockup within the state’s maximum-security facility at Angola.
The LaSalle Family Foundation, the nonprofit arm of LaSalle Corrections, will serve as the official contractor for the new ICE facility, which offers chaplaincy and educational programs in correctional settings, as indicated by tax records. However, LaSalle itself will still oversee the facility’s operations along with ensuring compliance, according to Tim Krupewski, the company’s CFO.
Despite the potential risks associated with such facilities, LaSalle spokesman Scott Satterfield declined to comment further. It’s worth noting that two detainee deaths have been reported at ICE-run centers managed by LaSalle since April. Moreover, Winn Correctional Center was found to have violated several health and safety standards by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General in June.
