Appleton Rallies Against Immigration Detention Reopening
Residents gathered at City Hall as CoreCivic moves to reopen the former Appleton prison as a 1,600-bed federal immigration detention center.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Immigration
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The Prairie Alliance for Human Dignity held its last scheduled rally of the season on Thursday, Oct. 29, in front of Appleton City Hall, where six people attended. The gathering opposed plans by CoreCivic to reopen the former Appleton prison as an ICE detention facility.
Why it matters
The federal government purchased the facility from CoreCivic for $495.6 million, and the reopening would bring a 1,600-bed immigration detention center to Appleton. Supporters point to projected local employment, while organizers argue the site should not hold detained immigrants.
CoreCivic reported selling the facility to the federal government for $495.6 million and holds a five-year contract to manage it at $75 million a year when fully utilized. The timing of the reopening and the actual occupancy levels have not been disclosed.
The players
CoreCivic
CoreCivic is a private prison and detention company that operates correctional and immigration detention facilities across the United States.
Prairie Alliance for Human Dignity
The Prairie Alliance for Human Dignity is a Minnesota citizen group that organizes rallies and prayer vigils opposing immigration detention in the region.
The details
The former Appleton prison, built in 1992 and closed in February 2020, will be converted into a 1,600-bed federal detention center for people detained by immigration agents. Prairie Alliance organizers, working with a coalition of more than a dozen partners convened by the Immigrant Defense Network, have held rallies and two prayer vigils, each drawing more than 100 participants.
Timeline
The Appleton prison closed in February 2020.
CoreCivic announced plans to reopen the facility in August 2026.
The Prairie Alliance held its last scheduled rally of the season on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.
Recurring citizen gatherings take place Thursdays at 5 p.m. at Appleton City Hall.
Immigration Context
The reopening follows a 2020 closure that eliminated the prison's 365 peak-era jobs, and it reverses that loss by repurposing the same site as a federal immigration detention center. The change places the Appleton facility within the broader shift of private detention operators like CoreCivic taking on federal immigration contracts.
Residents of Appleton may see new employment opportunities, since the facility is projected to provide over 500 jobs, with many expected to go to former prison employees. Those who oppose the plan can take part in the Thursday 5 p.m. gatherings at Appleton City Hall.
The takeaway
The reopening of the Appleton facility shows how a shuttered prison can return to service under a different federal mission, and local residents on both sides are organizing to shape the outcome.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Immigration news from across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by West Central Tribune.
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