Kansas Prison City Approves Permit for Immigration Detention Facility Reopening

After nearly a year of legal battles, Leavenworth, Kansas has granted permission for CoreCivic to reopen a shuttered private prison facility to house immigration detainees. The city commission voted 4-1 to approve a three-year permit with strict conditions including staffing requirements and oversight measures.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Following an extensive legal battle lasting nearly a year, officials in Leavenworth, Kansas have granted approval for a closed private correctional facility to resume operations housing immigration detainees, coinciding with nationwide efforts to expand detention capacity.

The Leavenworth City Commission granted approval Tuesday for a permit requested by private corrections company CoreCivic. In a 4-1 decision, commissioners authorized a three-year operating permit that includes requirements for minimum staff levels, prohibits housing juvenile detainees, and establishes a municipal monitoring committee.

“If they don’t follow those guidelines, we can pull the permit,” Mayor Nancy Bauder stated prior to the commission vote.

The facility in question, known as the Midwest Regional Reception Center, contains 1,104 beds and sits approximately 10 miles west of Kansas City International Airport. CoreCivic, among the country’s leading private prison companies, projects the facility will produce $60 million in annual revenue when operating at capacity.

The municipality of Leavenworth initiated legal action against CoreCivic when the company attempted to restart operations at the closed facility without obtaining municipal approval.

The litigation unfolded across both state and federal court systems, with the U.S. Department of Justice supporting CoreCivic’s position in court documents. Federal officials characterized the city’s actions as an “aggressive and unlawful effort” designed to “interfere with federal immigration enforcement.”

This legal dispute stands out as the only known case nationwide where a municipality successfully delayed a private detention facility’s opening during President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiatives. Municipal leaders contended that mandatory permitting would help avoid future complications, while CoreCivic argued no permit was necessary and the approval process would create unacceptable delays.

Leavenworth represented an unexpected opponent given the Republican-leaning community’s strong association with correctional institutions. The city’s name has become synonymous with incarceration, and local prison facilities employ hundreds of residents across two military installations, America’s original federal prison, a state correctional center, and a county detention facility, all located within 6 miles of city hall.

CoreCivic ceased housing federal pretrial detainees at its Leavenworth location in 2021 following then-President Joe Biden’s directive for the Justice Department to reduce reliance on private correctional facilities. The American Civil Liberties Union and federal public defenders documented violations of prisoner rights, including incidents of stabbings, suicides, and one murder.

Municipal court filings detailed instances of detainees being confined in shower areas as disciplinary measures and alleged CoreCivic hindered local law enforcement investigations into sexual assaults and other serious crimes.

Nearly four dozen community members voiced opposition to the permit during public comments before the commission vote. Mayor Bauder repeatedly cautioned the audience about excessive noise levels, and law enforcement ejected one protester who shouted profane remarks.

“We, we the people of Leavenworth, are not fooled and we don’t care about their money,” local resident David Benitez addressed the commissioners.

Several permit supporters highlighted potential economic benefits for the community. Two CoreCivic staff members advocated for approval, including Charles Johnson from Kansas City, Kansas, who described how his employment provided meaning and helped his family achieve financial independence from government assistance.

“The people I work alongside are caring, professional and committed to doing things the right way,” Johnson stated, though his remarks prompted negative reactions from opponents gathered outside the meeting chamber.

City Commissioner Holly Pittman noted that the municipality’s firm stance enabled negotiations for permit conditions. She expressed concern that rejection could trigger costly litigation.

“I will not gamble the financial stability of this city,” Pittman declared before casting her approval vote. “Let me be clear: Approval does not mean endorsement.”