In a bid to project a tough stance on immigration, the administration of Donald Trump has decided to confine undocumented immigrants in one of the most notorious and violent prisons in the United States. According to a report from the Associated Press (AP), a facility within the Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola, has been designated to house over 400 ICE detainees.
The facility already holds 51 individuals and was specifically chosen for its reputation as a harsh prison, confirmed by Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security. Governor Jeff Landry has stated that the facility, now renamed “Louisiana Lockup,” will reach capacity in the coming months as Trump advances his plans for mass deportations.
Angola is a maximum-security prison home to more than 6,000 inmates, including over 50 on death row. Its history dates back to a 19th-century slave plantation and is marked by decades of brutality, riots, and executions, earning it the infamous title of "America's bloodiest prison."
The Trump administration aims to send a message of deterrence. "This facility will house the worst of the worst," declared Noem, emphasizing that the decision was made "absolutely because of the prison's reputation." The AP reported that federal officials admitted the choice of this penal institution was a strategic move to encourage self-deportation among immigrants without legal status by facing the threat of being sent to such a feared location.
This initiative is part of an expansion of the immigration detention infrastructure, with projects like the “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana and the “Cornhusker Clink” in Nebraska. According to AP, the goal is to detain more than 100,000 individuals under a budget of $45 billion.
Critics warn that the symbolism of using Angola as a migrant detention center reinforces the criminalization of undocumented individuals and normalizes the use of prisons with histories of abuse for people whose only “offense” is lacking documentation.
Key Questions About Trump's Immigration Detention Strategy
Why was Angola prison chosen for detaining immigrants?
Angola was selected for its harsh reputation, serving as a deterrent to encourage self-deportation among undocumented immigrants.
What is the goal of Trump's immigration detention plan?
The plan aims to detain over 100,000 immigrants and send a strong message of deterrence, backed by a $45 billion budget.
What criticism has the use of Angola as a detention center faced?
Critics argue that it criminalizes undocumented immigrants and normalizes the use of prisons with abusive histories for those without legal documentation.