Federal Government Acquires Minnesota's Prairie Correctional Facility Amidst Policy Shifts
The Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota, has been sold to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for nearly $500 million. This acquisition is part of a broader federal strategy to expand detention capacity, following a new five-year contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The sale, announced by CoreCivic, the facility's owner, is part of a larger transaction that includes another facility in Kansas. The purchase has raised concerns about potential loss of property tax revenue for Swift County, as federal ownership may exempt the property from local taxes. The facility, which has been idle since 2010, is expected to reopen with detainees arriving by the fourth quarter of the year.