Research your candidates and learn about voting in Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A man wearing a pickle costume is backed by about two dozen people holding signs condemning ICE. 

Across the highway, a handful of counter-protesters shout insults and stand by cardboard signs that say “ICE, ICE Baby” and a Trump flag.  

The announcement this week that the long vacant Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, will become the newest Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center sent shockwaves through the small towns in the region. The private prison company CoreCivic announced this week that it 

 for ICE to use the facility for immigrant detention.  

News that the privately-owned prison will reopen as an ICE detention center has divided some community members. 

Supporters see reopening the former private prison as an economic boon for a struggling town. Opponents believe an ICE detention center is morally reprehensible, and a drain on community resources. 

 in nearby Madison. Appleton and Madison share a high school. 

Shelstad says she has friends who already work in the former prison. But the retired Army veteran just believes ICE’s activities are morally wrong. 

“So even though this might be some economic benefit for this person or that family, it's still hard to square with the history of ICE, the illegal detentions, the inhumane treatment, and things like that. I can't square that. You know, I spent 30 years in the Army, and I saw that kind of action in foreign countries, and it is literally appalling to see it happen in my own country.”

The community was further alarmed when CoreCivic announced that it was selling the facility to the federal government for almost half a billion dollars. CoreCivic will still operate the site. 

A council member who spoke with MPR News said exempting the property from the city’s property tax roles could cut 30 percent of the city’s budget. Therese Quinn who lives just outside of Appleton says she’s worried the federal purchase will mean even less money makes its way to city services. 

”We're not like a huge wealthy community out here,” said Quinn. “I mean, people are all workers.  I don't know how it's going to survive.”

Some local officials say the federal government is still in talks with the city over possible solutions. 

Edwin Coyour was driving his truck around the anti-ICE protest in Appleton with a sign that said “Welcome ICE” and “Deport Democrats.” He grew up in Appleton and returned after spending a few decades in the Twin Cities. 

Coyour says he believes people who came to the United States without documentation should be removed from the country. But he’d also like to see his hometown, where the downtown is dotted with vacant storefronts, revitalized. 

”I just want to see the community prosper a little bit. I want to see it grow.  I would love to see it grow. I'd like my kids to be around here. One’s in the Metro and one’s in Sioux Falls. There's nothing here for them, unfortunately, but that's just how it goes.”

But many people in the area are waiting, and hoping for the best outcome. 

Shawn Swenson owns the Apple Barrel bar in Appleton and a number of other businesses. He hopes reopening the facility will mean more jobs for locals. Even if the company brings in outside workers, he hopes it means they’ll put down roots in the town or at least spend paychecks there. 

Swenson doesn’t have an opinion on the moral rightness of housing ICE detainees. He sees the division that reopening the facility is causing, but thinks residents will continue talking to one another and work it out.  

“We have some real proponents each way, and we all get along. We all meet each other in the grocery store every day, and we all do those types of things. And if you don't like each other, you don't have to be friends, but you got to live together.”

Prairie Correctional Facility, which has remained shuttered since 2010, is set to start operations next week. The first detainees are expected to arrive this fall. And the 1,600 bed facility is expected to be at full operation by mid-2027. 

Politics and Government News

Social Issues

Immigration

Homepage

Jon Collins

Author

News that the privately-owned prison will reopen as an ICE detention center has sown division among some in Appleton and its surrounding communities. However, many in the region located about three hours west of the Twin Cities care less about the politics of immigration policy and just want to see their community revitalized. 

Ben Hovland | MPR News

A large black pickup truck drives by with a Welcome ICE sign

Community split on ICE detention center opening in Appleton, but many just want the area revitalized

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox