"The new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center, named 'Louisiana Lockup', commences operations within a notorious penitentiary"

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola prison, has undergone a significant transformation. It is now home to the latest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility, named the "Louisiana Lockup."

Spanning over 18,000 acres, the Louisiana Lockup is the latest in a series of facilities converted into ICE detention centres, joining the ranks of Alligator Alcatraz in Florida, Cornhusker Clink in Nebraska, and Speedway Slammer in Indiana.

Fifty-one migrants have already been moved into the Louisiana Lockup, with the detainees being housed in an unused section called Camp J, once infamous for its use as solitary confinement and known as the "Dungeon."

This partnership between the US Department of Homeland Security and the state government involves the opening of the Cornhusker Clink in Nebraska, a detention centre that will hold up to 280 immigrants. This marks an unprecedented large-scale partnership where federal immigration enforcement expands into state prison operations under the 287(g) program.

Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the expansion will help remove violent, criminal migrants from the U.S., while Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry thanked President Trump for his leadership and partnership in the Louisiana Lockup project.

In a move to accommodate more detainees, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is partnering with Louisiana to expand detention space by 416 beds at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.

The Louisiana Lockup is intended to house some of the "worst of the worst" criminal illegal migrants, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug traffickers, and gang members.

It is important to note that Angola prison was once infamous for its harsh conditions and was nicknamed "the bloodiest prison in the South" in 1962 due to the high number of stabbings.

Brooke Taylor, a Dallas-based correspondent for FOX News Channel, reported on this development, having joined the network in 2024.

Meanwhile, Florida is planning to open a "Deportation Depot" at a shuttered prison weeks after launching the Alligator Alcatraz facility. The funding for this expansion comes from the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

As the immigration debate continues to shape the political landscape, these developments underscore the ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration and enforce border security.