On 3/9, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the administration will detain undocumented immigrants at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola.
"This prison will house the most dangerous criminals," Secretary Noem stated, adding that the facility was chosen for its notoriety to deter illegal immigration into the US, encouraging self-deportation.
The US government has offered $1,000 to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the country. Participants are required to install the CBP Home app to track their self-deportation journey and receive payment upon confirmation of their return.
Officials reported that 51 undocumented immigrants have been transferred to Angola. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expects the facility to receive over 400 detainees in the coming months.
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US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at Angola prison in Louisiana on 3/9. Photo: AP |
US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at Angola prison in Louisiana on 3/9. Photo: AP
The road to Angola is surrounded by vast, desolate fields. The prison is enclosed by layers of fences and stacked barbed wire. At the entrance, a sign reads, "You are entering the land of new beginnings." Inside, the fortified single-occupancy cells are equipped with a bed, toilet, and sink.
The area designated for undocumented immigrants within Angola is a renovated section that was vacant for years. The rest of the facility remains operational, housing approximately 6,300 inmates, many of whom work on the surrounding fields under armed guard supervision.
The 7,300-acre prison also houses over 50 death row inmates, with the most recent execution occurring in March. In the 1960s and 1970s, Angola was known as "the bloodiest prison in America."
Since taking office, President Trump has intensified measures against illegal immigration. In July, he signed a $45 billion bill to expand detention facilities for undocumented immigrants. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aims to apprehend around 100,000 undocumented immigrants.
Ngoc Anh (Guardian, AP, ABC)
