A new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staging facility is expected to open near Alexandria, creating a temporary processing site for migrant families and unaccompanied children awaiting deportation flights.

The facility will be located at England Airpark, adjacent to Alexandria International Airport, which has become one of the nation’s busiest airports for ICE removal flights. According to reports, the center is expected to house up to 528 individuals and is designed to serve as a short-term holding location rather than a long-term detention center.

Federal officials say migrants processed at the site would typically remain there for up to 72 hours before boarding deportation flights or being transferred elsewhere. The facility is expected to begin operations later this summer.

England Airpark has played an increasingly important role in federal immigration operations in recent years because of its location and airport infrastructure. The airport has been used for thousands of immigration-related charter flights, making it a key transportation hub for ICE.

The project has generated mixed reactions. Supporters say the facility will improve coordination and allow families to remain together while awaiting transportation. They also point to the potential economic benefits of additional jobs and federal investment in Central Louisiana.

Critics, however, have expressed concerns about housing families and children at the site, the lack of public information surrounding operations, and the broader use of detention facilities as part of immigration enforcement.

Officials have emphasized that the Alexandria facility is intended to function as a temporary staging area and not as a permanent detention center. Additional details about staffing, operations, and opening dates are expected to be released as the project moves forward.

The proposed facility is located about an hour from Red River Parish and represents one of the most significant recent federal immigration developments in Central Louisiana.

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