Amid efforts to expand President Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown, US states have reopened, or newly opened, detention facilities. Most notable among these is Florida’s now-halted “Alligator Alcatraz” located in the Everglades. Deportation Depot, located in northern Florida, was established when the construction of Alligator Alcatraz was paused.
A new illegal immigrant detention facility is being prepared in Louisiana at a site called Camp 57, otherwise known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, or Angola, which is a prison dating back to the 1840s. The site’s name comes from the 57th governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry.
Camp 57 was announced Thursday at a press conference, with Attorney General Pam Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Landry speaking on the initiative.
“If you don’t think that they belong in somewhere [sic] like this you’ve got a problem,” Landry said about the prison’s detainees, who are supposed to be the worst offenders.
According to WAFB 9, “Sources said the first phase of work has been completed which includes completely refurbished cells and air conditioning. It will have the capacity to hold up to 200 detainees. Sources at Angola said they were told the worst ICE offenders will be housed there from across America.”
“This is a facility that is notorious,” Secretary Noem said at the conference. “Angola prison is legendary. But that’s a message that these individuals that are going to be here—that are illegal criminals— need to understand.”
“Louisiana, you’re going to be an example for the rest of this country,” Attorney General Bondi also said.
