Minnesota prison sitting idle since 2010 set to house 1,600 immigrant detainees

A former Minnesota private prison that has been sitting idle since 2010 will soon be home to about 1,600 immigrant detainees after a new federal contract was awarded to the facility.

The new five-year contract, which begins on Aug. 11 will reopen the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, according to an announcement by CoreCivic, Inc.

The first batch of detainees will arrive at the facility towards the end of 2026, and the rest are expected by the second quarter of 2027.

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