DHS Opens Angola Prison ICE Detention Facility Housing Violent Detainees

The Trump administration has opened a new ICE detention center named Camp 57 within the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola prison, to house immigrants convicted of serious crimes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the facility as housing the "worst of the worst" criminal illegal aliens, including those convicted of murder, rape, and drug dealing, and emphasized the choice of Angola as a deliberate message to deter illegal immigration. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry praised the move as part of a strategy to combat crime linked to illegal immigration, crediting President Trump for addressing national violence. The facility, which can hold up to 400 detainees, has already transferred 51 men and plans to exceed 200 by mid-September, with detainees kept isolated from the general prison population under ICE control. Angola prison's history of violence, forced labor, and harsh conditions adds to the controversial nature of repurposing it as an immigrant detention center. Critics highlight Angola's brutal legacy, including ongoing lawsuits over forced farm labor and its notorious reputation, raising concerns about the treatment of detainees there.