Closed Baldwin Prison Set to Reopen as ICE Detention Center

The North Lake Correctional Facility in Lake County, Michigan, is set to reopen as a federal immigration processing center for ICE, following a contract with the GEO Group. This 1,800-bed private prison, which closed in 2022 after an executive order from President Biden aimed at ending the use of private prisons, is expected to generate $70 million in its first year of operation. Local leaders have expressed support for the facility's reopening, citing the economic benefits for one of Michigan's poorest counties, despite opposition from the ACLU, which argues that housing ICE detainees would not suit the community. The facility has a history of housing non-U.S. citizens considered low security and is now being positioned to meet increasing federal immigration enforcement needs. GEO Group emphasizes its long-standing partnership with ICE and the necessary support services it will provide at the facility. The situation reflects ongoing debates about immigration enforcement and the role of private prisons in the U.S.