Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Crime, Law and Justice
Riham Feshir

Minnesota lawmakers announce plan to ban for-profit immigration detention

An empty, privately-owned prison
This closed prison in Appleton, Minn., is owned by a private company, CoreCivic, one of the highest-paid immigration contractors in the United States.
Mark Steil | MPR News 2015 file

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Two Minnesota lawmakers announced Friday their plans to introduce a bill that would ban for-profit immigration detention centers in Minnesota.

The announcement comes after MPR News reported on a private company's push to reopen a vacant state prison as an immigration detention facility in the the city of Appleton, Minn., about three hours west of the Twin Cities.

Reps. Michael Howard, DFL-Richfield, and Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, plan to introduce the bill, calling for-profit immigration detention "immoral, wrong and has no place in the state of Minnesota."

"When you look at what's happened at the southern border, the thought of bringing that to Minnesota, it's not right,” Howard said. “We should make sure that no one is profiting from the detention of immigrant families.”

The Tennessee-based firm CoreCivic, which is one of the highest-paid immigration contractors in the nation, has been lobbying local elected officials to support their proposal. Some local officials back the plan because of the jobs it would bring.

The DFL lawmakers hope to follow similar legislation in Illinois that bans for-profit detention centers from operating in that state.