A New Staging Ground for Deportation Flights
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is moving to establish a 528-bed staging facility near the Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana. Located at a former military base, the site is designed to expedite the processing of migrant families and unaccompanied children for deportation. According to records obtained by the Associated Press, the facility will serve as a short-term holding area for individuals awaiting removal flights.
Solving Logistical Bottlenecks
The federal government is utilizing the Alexandria location to address persistent logistical hurdles in the deportation process. Currently, officials struggle to coordinate the transport of families and children from various shelters across the country to designated airport hubs.
By placing a holding site near a major transit point, the government hopes to avoid past complications, such as the incident where children were held on a tarmac in Harlingen, Texas, for extended periods while a federal judge reviewed their cases. The England Airpark Authority expects the new facility to be operational as early as August.
Guidelines for a Non-Traditional Environment
ICE has characterized the location as a “staging area” rather than a traditional detention center, stating that individuals would remain at the site for only a few days. Agency planning documents specify that families and children at the facility remain in the legal custody of ICE.
To distinguish the site from standard detention environments, ICE has issued specific guidelines to contractors:
- Terminology: Families and children cannot be referred to as prisoners, detainees, or inmates.
- Environment: The use of bars or cages during transport is prohibited.
- Conditions: Residents should be allowed to wear their own clothing, and the facility is not required to conduct formal headcounts.
Private Oversight and Management Shifts
The facility will not be operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which typically manages the care of unaccompanied children in state-licensed shelters. Instead, the site will be operated by a nonprofit arm of LaSalle Corrections, a private prison contractor.
Tim Kurpiewski, chief financial officer of LaSalle Corrections, confirmed the company will operate the facility and ensure compliance. This follows a shift in management plans; Texas-based nonprofit Compass Connections, which was initially tapped to assist with operations, is no longer involved, according to company president Sonya Thompson.
Advocates Raise Alarms on Oversight
Immigration advocates have raised alarms regarding the potential for extended stays and the lack of traditional oversight. Leecia Welch, chief legal counsel at the nonprofit Children’s Rights, described the project as an “expansion of the deportation system” that carries significant risks.
Concerns are further compounded by the track record of facilities managed by LaSalle Corrections. In June, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General found that the Winn Correctional Center, a LaSalle-run facility, violated standards related to food service, medical care, and the use of force. Additionally, two deaths have been reported since April at another LaSalle-operated ICE facility in Louisiana.
Despite these concerns, airpark officials have characterized the initiative as a “humanitarian effort” for families who are choosing to self-deport. Records from the ICE Flight Monitor, an initiative of Human Rights First, indicate that the Alexandria International Airport saw more than 4,400 immigration enforcement flights in 2025.
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