Community Unites Against Appleton Prison Reopening for ICE Detention

Residents of Appleton, Minnesota, will gather this afternoon for a prayer vigil and news conference aimed at opposing the proposed reopening of the Prairie Correctional Facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. The event, organized by the local advocacy group CURE of Montevideo, is scheduled for 14:00 on September 19, 2023, at the Appleton Civic Center lawn located at 323 W. Schlieman Ave.

The vigil comes in response to reports from credible sources, including the Washington Post, indicating that ICE plans to expand its detention capacity nationwide. This expansion could involve utilizing the Prairie Correctional Facility, a privately owned prison that has remained closed since 2010. The facility is owned by CoreCivic, a for-profit prison company that has expressed interest in reopening the site.

Nationally, ICE aims to increase its detention capacity to over 100,000 individuals by the end of the year. This ambitious target has prompted significant opposition from various community members and organizations across Minnesota and the United States. Activists argue that reopening the prison is not a humane solution to immigration issues and advocate for alternatives that prioritize community welfare.

During the vigil, community leaders will present a sign-on letter to local officials, urging them to abandon plans for the facility’s reopening. The coalition behind the event emphasizes the need for collaboration among city officials, residents, and community groups to focus on Appleton’s future development in a manner that fosters community rather than detention.

Among the notable speakers at the vigil is Bishop Jen Nagel of the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Her presence underscores the event’s appeal to moral and ethical considerations surrounding immigration policy and community support.

As the community comes together this afternoon, the message is clear: residents are advocating for a compassionate approach to immigration, seeking to invest in Appleton’s future rather than in detention facilities. The outcome of this gathering may influence local policy discussions moving forward, particularly concerning the role of private prisons and the treatment of immigrants in the United States.