Villa Devoto prison inmates begin transfer to Marcos Paz complex

The Argentine national and Buenos Aires City governments have begun the gradual transfer of approximately 1,500 inmates from the historic Villa Devoto prison to the new Federal Penitentiary Complex VIII in Marcos Paz. The first phase of the operation saw 326 detainees moved under a heavy security presence involving a Unified Command of federal, city, and provincial forces.

The new facility in Marcos Paz is a modern maximum-security complex situated on 80 hectares, with a total capacity for 2,232 inmates. The relocation aims to alleviate overcrowding at the Devoto facility and fulfill long-standing neighborhood demands for its closure. Once the Devoto prison is vacated, authorities also plan to move 350 inmates currently held in local police stations to the new complex.

Officials, including Buenos Aires City Chief Jorge Macri and National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva, described the operation as “historic.” The transfer process is expected to be completed by the end of the year, though it may be temporarily paused in November during a scheduled visit by Pope Leo XIV to Argentina.