Failed Prison To House 1,000 Illegals

Leavenworth, Kansas, has granted a private prison company permission to reopen a shuttered detention facility with a documented history of preventable deaths, drug use, and chronic understaffing to house over 1,000 illegal immigrants for ICE—a move that underscores the critical role local communities play in supporting President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda despite fierce opposition from activists.

Story Snapshot

Leavenworth City Commission approved CoreCivic’s special use permit on March 10, 2026, allowing the private company to reopen a 1,000-bed facility for ICE detainees
The facility closed in 2021 after a 2017 DOJ audit exposed systemic failures including preventable deaths, injuries, drug use, and severe understaffing
Approval came with conditions including mandatory inspections within two days, a three-year permit term, and required infrastructure upgrades
The decision aligns with Trump administration immigration enforcement priorities while dividing the community between economic opportunity and human rights concerns

City Commission Approves Controversial Reopening

The Leavenworth City Commission granted CoreCivic’s special use permit on March 10, 2026, clearing the path for the private prison operator to house more than 1,000 illegal immigrants awaiting deportation proceedings. The approval culminates a yearslong battle that began when CoreCivic initially claimed no local permit was required, sparking nearly a year of lawsuits challenging the city’s jurisdiction. The facility, which sits idle in this northeast Kansas prison town, will operate under a three-year conditional permit requiring regular inspections and infrastructure improvements including sewage system upgrades.

Documented History of Failures Raises Concerns

CoreCivic shut down the detention center in 2021 following years of troubling operational failures documented in a 2017 U.S. Department of Justice audit. The audit revealed chronic understaffing that led to preventable drug use among detainees, injuries, and deaths within the facility. Planning Commissioner Kenneth Bateman, the sole dissenter in the initial recommendation, criticized the proposed oversight controls as having “rubber teeth,” expressing doubt about their effectiveness in preventing future abuses. CoreCivic attributes most documented problems to an 18-month pandemic period, though the DOJ audit predates the COVID-19 outbreak.

Community Divided Over Economic and Moral Considerations

Public hearings exposed deep divisions within Leavenworth, pitting economic interests against human rights concerns. Supporters like retired corrections worker Rick Joyce advocated for a trial period with proper oversight, emphasizing potential jobs and revenue for the prison town. Opponents including local resident Daniel McIntosh and Catholic community members urged outright rejection on moral grounds, highlighting past abuses and questioning whether adequate safeguards could prevent future harm. City officials deliberately narrowed their focus to zoning compliance and infrastructure requirements, sidestepping broader immigration policy debates that belong at the federal level.

Permit Conditions Provide Oversight Framework

The approved permit includes specific restrictions designed to address past failures and protect community interests. CoreCivic must allow city inspections within two days of request and complete mandated infrastructure upgrades before operations begin. The three-year term provides an evaluation period, allowing city officials to assess compliance and close the facility if violations occur. A pending state court appeal challenges whether CoreCivic needed local permission at all, though the company submitted its application in December 2025 without conceding the permit’s necessity. City Manager Scott Peterson noted the commission retained full discretion regardless of planning recommendations.

Decision Supports Trump Immigration Enforcement Priorities

The facility’s reopening directly supports President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda by providing detention capacity for illegal immigrants facing deportation. This decision represents a practical example of local government cooperation with federal priorities, addressing the urgent need for secure detention facilities as ICE expands operations under the current administration. The approval positions Leavenworth as a regional detention hub, demonstrating how communities can balance legitimate concerns about operational standards with the constitutional imperative to enforce immigration laws. While activists frame the decision through a human rights lens, supporters recognize that secure, properly managed detention facilities serve a necessary function in processing illegal immigrants and maintaining the rule of law that protects American citizens.