The federal immigration center in Winnfield, Louisiana, has emerged as an economic lifeline for the struggling town, which has faced job losses and population decline. Established six years ago, the center has created well-paying jobs and provides funds for local services. With 1,600 beds, it stands as one of the largest ICE detention facilities in the U.S., reflecting the ongoing hardline immigration policies. Local residents have mixed feelings about the center, appreciating its economic benefits while also wrestling with the ethical implications of its existence in their community.
These days, Winn Correctional Center's 1,600 beds make it the largest ICE detention center in this deep-red state and one of the largest in the country.
Many take more issue with outsiders who accuse the administration of trying to isolate detainees. They're not Gitmo, they say.”
The economic benefits of detention, in a rural parish where about a quarter of residents live in poverty, have muted criticism of the president's immigration policies.
ICE detainee buses are now as common a sight as lumber trucks across the region, reflecting the changed landscape of the town.
Collection
[
|
...
]