On 4 September 2025, Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem announced at Louisiana’s Angola prison that a refurbished complex there will hold Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees. Noem said the site’s notorious reputation was a deliberate factor intended to encourage people in the US without legal status to self-deport; officials said 51 detainees were already in place and the facility can hold roughly 400 people.
Key Takeaways
- Kristi Noem said the Angola site was selected in part for its reputation to deter undocumented immigration.
- About 51 detainees were reported on site; state officials expect the center could reach capacity of ~400 in coming months.
- The building is a renovated, long-vacant unit inside the 18,000-acre Angola state penitentiary, which still runs other active operations.
- Angola houses roughly 6,300 inmates, including more than 50 on death row; a nitrogen-gas execution took place in March 2025.
- The federal effort to expand detention capacity follows a $45bn package signed in July that aims to support detention of roughly 100,000 people, according to officials cited by the administration.
- State and federal allies have opened or announced other branded detention sites, such as facilities nicknamed Alligator Alcatraz, Speedway Slammer and Cornhusker Clink.
Verified Facts
The DHS secretary spoke at Angola on 4 September 2025 and said the facility would hold those she described as the “most dangerous.” Officials told reporters that 51 detainees were already being housed in the renovated unit; Louisiana governor Jeff Landry said he expected the site to fill to capacity with more than 400 people as federal enforcement expands.
The detention unit is part of Louisiana state penitentiary—commonly called Angola—an 18,000-acre complex that remains active. State records and reporting indicate the prison holds about 6,300 inmates and more than 50 people on death row. The most recent execution reported at the facility occurred in March 2025 and used nitrogen gas; the prison’s historic electric chair is displayed in its museum.
On the ground, the refurbished building contains single-occupancy cells with a bed, toilet and sink, enclosed outdoor areas of chain-link fencing and perimeter security featuring multiple rows of barbed wire and guard towers. The structure was not newly built but refurbished after a period of vacancy, while other camps at Angola continue regular operations, including agricultural work.
The administration has described the move as part of a wider push to expand detention infrastructure. Reporting cited a recently passed package—identified by officials as a $45bn expansion for immigration detention—that would support efforts to detain a large number of people; ICE has been reported to target detentions on the order of 100,000 people under that plan.
Context & Impact
Angola’s selection signals a messaging strategy that links immigration enforcement with high-security criminal detention. Officials framed the site choice as both practical—using existing space—and symbolic, aiming to project a tougher stance on illegal entry.
Legal, humanitarian and political consequences could follow. Human-rights groups and civil-liberties advocates are likely to challenge the expansion and conditions. Local economies, prison staffing and state-federal relations may also be affected as detention logistics increase.
- Potential legal challenges to the facility’s operations or the broader detention expansion.
- Pressure on local medical and legal services for detainees.
- Political ramifications for state officials who supported or promoted the site.
This facility will hold the most dangerous of criminals; it was chosen in part for its reputation, which we hope will encourage self-deportation.
Kristi Noem, DHS secretary
If you don’t think they belong somewhere like this, you’ve got a problem.
Jeff Landry, Louisiana governor
Unconfirmed or Open Questions
- Whether the administration’s stated intent to prompt self-deportation will measurably reduce undocumented presence is unconfirmed.
- Exact timelines for when the facility will reach full capacity and the detailed intake criteria for detainees remain projections rather than settled facts.
- Specific operational plans for medical care, legal access and oversight at the renovated unit were not fully disclosed during the site visit.
Bottom Line
The use of Angola for ICE detainees merges a long-standing, high-profile prison with a politically charged federal immigration push. Beyond immediate capacity and logistics, the move is likely intended to reinforce deterrent messaging—but it raises unresolved legal, humanitarian and administrative questions that will shape debate and litigation in the months ahead.
Sources
- The Guardian (reporting on site visit and statements)
- Associated Press (coverage cited by outlets)
- Department of Justice / Louisiana corrections historical materials (background on Angola)