The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a new agreement with the state of Louisiana to increase detention capacity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by up to 416 beds at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison. The facility will be referred to as “Louisiana Lockup” and is intended to detain individuals identified by ICE as serious criminal offenders.
This expansion follows funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill, which provided resources for 80,000 new beds for ICE detainees.
“COMING SOON: Louisiana Lockup. Today, we’re announcing a new partnership with the state of Louisiana to expand detention space,” said Secretary Noem. “Thank you to Governor Landry for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country. If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in CECOT, Cornhusker Clink, Speedway Slammer, or Louisiana Lockup. Avoid arrest and self deport now using the CBP Home App.”
Governor Landry commented on the partnership’s objectives: “Criminal illegal aliens beware: Louisiana Lockup is where your time in America ends,” said Gov. Landry. “Louisiana Lockup will give ICE the space it needs to lock up some of the worst criminal illegal aliens—murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug traffickers, and gang members—so they can no longer threaten our families and communities. This facility fulfills President Trump’s Make America Safe Again promise. I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan for their leadership and partnership. Together, we’re making Louisiana and America safer.”
Officials highlighted several recent cases involving individuals arrested or removed by ICE New Orleans who have been convicted of crimes such as homicide, rape with a weapon, cocaine smuggling, aggravated burglary, firearms offenses involving altered serial numbers or unlawful transfer across state lines, conspiracy related to drug trafficking or fraud schemes involving significant quantities of controlled substances including cocaine (over five kilograms), battery-family violence with cruelty charges towards children third degree level seriousness included among other violent acts like domestic violence possession firearm negligent carrying concealed weapons misrepresentation during booking periods especially when linked MS-13 gang membership status reported against suspects originating from multiple countries outside United States jurisdictional boundaries.
These examples illustrate the type of detainee expected at Louisiana Lockup under this expanded program.
