DHS Pays $495.6 Million to Reactivate Minnesota Prison for 1,600 ICE Detainees

The Department of Homeland Security began operating the Appleton Detention Facility in Minnesota on November 9, 2026. The site will house approximately 1,600 individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This reactivation follows a purchase agreement that valued the property at $495.6 million.

The facility, formerly known as Prairie Correctional Facility, had remained unused since 2010. In August, private prison operator CoreCivic confirmed the sale to the federal government. At that time, CoreCivic stated it anticipated continuing to run the site under existing contracts with ICE. The transaction transferred ownership from the private sector to the Department of Homeland Security for less than half a billion dollars.

A spokesperson for DHS described the move as a way to secure immediate detention space. “The site gives ICE immediate capacity to detain and remove those who have no legal right to remain, protecting American communities and restoring the integrity of our borders without waiting years for new construction,” the spokesperson said. The department emphasized that this avoids the delays associated with building new infrastructure.

The first group of detainees is scheduled to arrive before the end of 2026. The remaining population is expected to be processed by the second quarter of 2027. DHS stated that the opening strengthens its ability to enforce immigration laws and execute deportation mandates.

The facility is now fully operational. It serves as a new location for immigration enforcement activities in the upper Midwest. The site will function under the authority of the federal government, with the initial intake phase occurring in the coming weeks.