ICE signs five‑year contract to reopen CoreCivic’s Prairie Correctional Facility in Minnesota

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has entered a five‑year agreement with private‑prison operator CoreCivic to reactivate the 1,600‑bed Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota. The prison, closed since 2010, is slated to begin receiving detainees in the fourth quarter of 2026, with full operations expected by the second quarter of 2027. Under the deal, ICE will pay a fixed monthly fee plus per‑diem amounts based on the detainee population, generating roughly $75 million in annual revenue for CoreCivic after start‑up costs. CoreCivic CEO Patrick D. Swindle said the company has made investments to ensure an efficient reactivation. Community reaction has been mixed, with some local leaders and immigrant‑rights groups condemning the reopening, while others view it as an economic boost for the region.