The England Airpark in Alexandria, Louisiana, is being converted into a 528-bed facility called the Alexandria Family Staging Center to hold families, unaccompanied minors and single adult females awaiting removal. Operators say stays will average under 48 hours and that the site will provide medical and mental-health services; they also insist it is a "non-detained" staging center. Advocates and attorneys dispute that characterization, pointing to a draft agreement that refers to ICE detention under federal law and raising PFAS contamination and liberty concerns. Local officials say the site could begin receiving people within a week or two, and project managers report construction is about 95% complete.
528‑Bed 'Alexandria Family Staging Center' Near Alexandria Could Open Within Weeks Amid Protests and Health Concerns
New ICE facility to hold families, unaccompanied minors could open in next week
Local officials and immigrant-rights advocates say a renovated set of former Air Force barracks at England Airpark in Alexandria, Louisiana, is being prepared to receive undocumented migrants. The site is being outfitted with 528 beds and is described by operators as the Alexandria Family Staging Center, intended to hold families with children, unaccompanied minors and single adult females while they await removal.
What The Facility Will Be
According to a draft agreement between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the England Economic and Industrial Development District (EEIDD) reviewed by ABC News, the center would house migrants for short periods while their deportation or transfer is arranged. Operators say the expected average stay will be under 48 hours.
Who Will Run It
Management oversight will be provided by the LaSalle Family Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with private-prison operator LaSalle Corrections. Daily operations are slated to be run by Anovaeon, a company that describes itself as offering humanitarian-response services. Project managers told commissioners the site was about 95% complete, and an EEIDD communications manager said the facility could begin receiving people "within the next week or two."
Operator Claims and Detainees' Rights
At a recent board meeting, Anovaeon CEO Eric Fritz rejected the label of "detention center," calling the project a staging site for people who are voluntarily departing the country and listing planned services such as medical and mental-health care, "quality meals," recreational space and free international calling.
Alex Wong/Getty Images - PHOTO: An exterior view of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency headquarters is seen, July 6, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
"This project right over here is not a detention center, it's a staging center for families who are voluntarily departing this country," Eric Fritz said at the meeting.
However, Anovaeon Senior Director of Operations Jeffrey Lynch acknowledged staff would notify ICE if someone tried to leave and described a protocol of staff first approaching the individual, explaining the program and, if necessary, opening the gate while informing ICE.
"They're literally steps away and they would be there to either intervene, convince them to come back in, or take whatever steps they would take as part of their case management practices," Lynch said, referring to an ICE office adjacent to the property.
Critics, Legal Language, And Safety Concerns
Advocates and immigration attorneys say the center will function as a detention facility and point to a draft Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) obtained by advocacy groups that describes one purpose as providing "ICE alien detention in a secure environment under the authority of the Immigration and Nationality Act." At a press conference, Stephanie Alvarez-Jones of the National Immigration Project said, "There can be no hiding what this is, this is a detention center. People are not free to leave."
Immigrant-rights groups also raised environmental-health concerns, including claims the property may be contaminated with PFAS chemicals. DHS, EEIDD and Anovaeon did not provide responses to ABC News requests about contamination testing or whether migrants would be physically restrained during stays or removals. DHS did not give a firm opening date.
How Officials Describe the Site
An ICE spokesperson described the location as "a staging facility for deportations," saying it would be where detainees await deportation flights or transfer to another detention site. Local board approval for the project came in February after contentious public meetings and protests by residents.
Key facts: 528 beds; intended population includes families with children, unaccompanied minors and single adult females; managed by LaSalle Family Foundation; operated by Anovaeon; draft IGSA references ICE detention under the INA; advocates dispute the "non-detained" label and cite PFAS concerns.
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