ICE’s $50 Million Midwest Expansion: Inside the Plan to Double Detention Capacity and Build a Regional Transfer Hub

In a move that has sent shockwaves through immigrant communities and civil rights advocates across the Upper Midwest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to spend between $20 million and $50 million to establish a massive detention and transportation network spanning Minnesota and four neighboring states. The plans, detailed in internal planning documents obtained by WIRED, reveal an ambitious expansion that would create a privately-run transfer hub capable of moving up to 1,000 detainees at a time across a 400-mile radius.

The documents forecast ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investing heavily in jail space across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska, with the ultimate goal of establishing what amounts to a regional deportation pipeline. This infrastructure would give federal agents unprecedented latitude to sweep up individuals in the Twin Cities and transport them hundreds of miles away for processing and potential deportation.

Operation Metro Surge: The Aggressive Raids That Sparked the Crisis

The detention expansion plans come amid what Minnesota officials and civil rights groups are calling an “unprecedented deployment” of federal forces. Operation Metro Surge has transformed the Twin Cities into what critics describe as a battleground, with thousands of armed agents conducting street-level stops, dangerous vehicle interdictions, and mass detentions that have swept up U.S. citizens alongside undocumented immigrants.

The operation has been marked by fatal use of force incidents and has sparked repeated protests in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Demonstrators have marched to downtown hotels where federal agents are reportedly staying, leading to confrontations that have drawn arrests and widespread use of tear gas and chemical irritants. A federal judge has already set restrictions on federal agents participating in Metro Surge from using force against peaceful protesters and observers, though the Trump administration is appealing the ruling.

The backlash has spread far beyond Minnesota’s borders. Organizers called for an “ICE Out for Good” weekend of action that saw more than 1,000 protests and rallies nationwide, demonstrating the widespread opposition to what many view as an overreach of federal authority.

The Appleton Connection: Prairie Correctional Facility’s Controversial Comeback

At the center of ICE’s regional expansion plans lies the long-shuttered Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota. This 1,600-bed prison, which closed its doors in 2010, has emerged as the prime candidate for reactivation as a mega-detention center capable of housing detainees from across the region.

Internal planning documents from last year first pointed to Appleton as a potential site for this massive expansion. The facility’s ready-made infrastructure—complete with housing for a thousand people or more—makes it an attractive option for federal planners looking to rapidly scale up detention capacity. CoreCivic, which owns the facility, has acknowledged exploring federal opportunities, though company spokesperson Brian Todd emphasized that they are simply maintaining the property and exploring potential partnerships.

The prospect of reopening the dormant prison has hardened into a local conflict that pits economic opportunity against human rights concerns. Clergy and immigrant advocates have organized against the facility’s reopening, warning that it would bind a rural town to mass-detention decisions made elsewhere and normalize long-distance transfers preceding deportation. Supporters, however, argue that reopening the prison would bring back much-needed jobs to a community that lost them when the facility closed.

Appleton city administrator John Olinger told WIRED that the city has had no contact with ICE or CoreCivic since the matter came up last fall. “The city has no authority to reject the plan,” he said. “The prison is allowed within the zone and thus does not need any approval.”

The Nationwide Detention Expansion

The Midwest plans are part of a broader nationwide expansion of ICE detention capacity that was first revealed in August 2025. Public reporting at that time placed the Appleton facility at the center of a push to double immigrant detention space across the country. The strategy involves moving away from smaller, scattered facilities toward mega-facilities capable of housing a thousand people or more.

Under federal acquisition rules, ICE may proceed to issuing a solicitation or directly awarding a contract in the coming months, with planning documents showing an anticipated award in early 2026. This timeline suggests that the agency is moving quickly to implement its expansion plans, potentially before significant opposition can mobilize.

Legal Challenges and Civil Rights Concerns

The aggressive nature of Operation Metro Surge has already prompted legal challenges. Minnesota officials and civil rights groups have filed court documents describing the federal deployment as an “invasion,” seeking to halt what they characterize as an overreach of federal authority into state and local matters.

The use of force incidents, including fatal encounters, has raised serious questions about accountability and oversight. Critics point to the agency’s track record and argue that expanding detention capacity without corresponding improvements in oversight and accountability measures will only lead to more human rights violations.

The mass detentions that have swept up U.S. citizens have also raised constitutional concerns. Civil rights lawyers argue that the broad scope of the operations violates due process protections and creates a climate of fear in immigrant communities that extends far beyond those who are undocumented.

Economic and Social Implications

The expansion of ICE detention capacity in the Upper Midwest raises complex questions about the relationship between economic development and human rights. For communities like Appleton, the prospect of reopening a large employer represents an economic lifeline. However, immigrant advocates warn that this short-term economic gain comes at the cost of normalizing mass detention and deportation in rural America.

The creation of a regional transfer hub would also have significant implications for the social fabric of the Upper Midwest. Long-distance transfers separate families and communities, making it more difficult for detainees to access legal representation and maintain contact with loved ones. The psychological toll on both detainees and their communities could be substantial.

The Broader Political Context

The detention expansion plans must be understood within the broader context of federal immigration policy and the political climate surrounding immigration enforcement. The aggressive nature of Operation Metro Surge and the push for expanded detention capacity reflect a hardline approach to immigration that has been a hallmark of the current administration’s policies.

The nationwide protests that followed the “ICE Out for Good” weekend of action demonstrate that this approach has sparked significant opposition. The tension between federal enforcement priorities and local community values is likely to intensify as these plans move forward.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next?

As ICE moves forward with its plans to establish a regional detention and transportation network, several key developments will shape the outcome:

First, the legal challenges to Operation Metro Surge will play a crucial role in determining the scope and nature of federal enforcement activities in the region. The outcome of these cases could set important precedents for the limits of federal authority in immigration enforcement.

Second, the response from local communities will be critical. While Appleton may lack the authority to reject the plan outright, community opposition could influence the implementation details and potentially impact the political calculations of those involved.

Third, the broader political climate will shape the trajectory of these plans. As opposition to aggressive immigration enforcement grows nationwide, political pressure could influence the speed and scale of the expansion.

Finally, the economic implications for communities involved in the detention expansion will continue to be a point of contention. The tension between economic opportunity and human rights concerns will likely remain a central theme in debates over these plans.

The $20-50 million investment in detention infrastructure represents more than just a logistical expansion of federal capabilities. It signals a fundamental shift in how immigration enforcement is conducted in the Upper Midwest, with implications that will reverberate through communities, courts, and political arenas for years to come.

Tags: ICE expansion, immigration detention, Minnesota protests, Operation Metro Surge, Prairie Correctional Facility, CoreCivic, ICE Out for Good, federal invasion, mass detention, deportation pipeline, immigrant rights, civil disobedience, Upper Midwest, ICE raids, detention hub, Trump administration immigration policy

Viral Sentences:
“This is not just about immigration enforcement—it’s about the future of rural America and who gets to decide that future.”

“When they come for one community, they come for all of us. The fight in Minnesota is everyone’s fight.”

“History will judge us by how we respond when our government builds deportation pipelines through our backyard.”

“They’re not just detaining immigrants—they’re detaining the soul of our nation.”

“This is what happens when profit motives collide with human lives. CoreCivic stands to make millions while families are torn apart.”

“The real invasion isn’t happening at the border—it’s happening in our cities, our neighborhoods, our communities.”

“ICE Out for Good isn’t just a protest slogan—it’s a survival strategy for immigrant communities under siege.”

“When they build a 1,600-bed prison in your town, they’re not just bringing jobs—they’re bringing a new normal.”

“The question isn’t whether we can stop this expansion—it’s whether we have the courage to try.”

“This is how democracy dies—not with a bang, but with the quiet reopening of a prison in a small Minnesota town.”

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