Reopening Prisons as Detention Centers: The Troubling Resurgence of Immigrant Detention Facilities In a move that has raised concerns among human rights advocates, the Trump administration has set its sights on reopening shuttered prisons across several states to serve as detention centers for immigrants. Many of these facilities have a troubled past, marked by allegations of abuse and mismanagement, casting a troubling shadow over the administration's push for increased immigrant detention capacity. The decision to repurpose these former prisons comes amidst the administration's broader crackdown on immigration. Under the Trump presidency, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has seen a significant expansion of its detention operations, with the agency currently holding a record number of immigrants in custody. The prisons being targeted for this repurposing were previously closed down due to a range of issues, from budget constraints to widespread reports of mistreatment and substandard conditions. Now, the administration is seeking to breathe new life into these facilities, transforming them into detention centers to house a growing population of immigrants awaiting deportation proceedings. One such facility is the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, which was previously shuttered in 2017 amid allegations of abuse and neglect. The center has a long history of problematic incidents, including reports of unsanitary living conditions, inadequate medical care, and even allegations of forced gynecological procedures performed on detained women. Similarly, the Morrow County Correctional Facility in Ohio, which closed in 2017, is now slated to reopen as an ICE detention center. This facility was previously the subject of a scathing report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which detailed widespread abuse, including the use of excessive force by guards and a lack of access to basic medical and mental health services. The decision to reopen these facilities has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and immigration advocates, who argue that these prisons are ill-equipped to handle the specific needs and vulnerabilities of immigrant detainees. The reopening of these facilities, they contend, represents a troubling disregard for the well-being and human rights of those caught in the immigration enforcement system. "These are prisons that have been closed for a reason – because of documented patterns of abuse, neglect, and substandard conditions," said Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network, a nonprofit organization that monitors immigration detention facilities. "Reopening them as immigration detention centers is a clear sign that the administration is more concerned with expanding detention capacity than ensuring the safety and dignity of the people they detain." The administration's push to reopen these facilities is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader trend of expanding the immigration detention system. Under the Trump presidency, the number of immigrants in ICE custody has soared, reaching a record high of over 50,000 in 2019. This expansion has been fueled by the administration's hardline stance on immigration, as well as increased funding and enforcement efforts. The reopening of these shuttered prisons as detention centers is particularly concerning given the well-documented history of abuse and neglect within the immigration detention system. A 2020 report by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General found widespread issues, including inadequate medical care, lack of access to legal resources, and poor sanitation. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already precarious conditions within detention facilities, with outbreaks and concerns over the ability to implement proper safety protocols. The reopening of these facilities raises questions about the administration's ability to ensure the health and safety of detainees, especially in light of the ongoing public health crisis. The decision to repurpose these former prisons also raises broader questions about the ethics and efficacy of the immigration detention system as a whole. Critics argue that the detention of immigrants, many of whom pose no public safety threat, is a costly and inhumane practice that undermines due process and human rights. "Detention should be the absolute last resort, not the default response to immigration enforcement," said Eunice Cho, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU's National Prison Project. "By reopening these troubled facilities, the administration is doubling down on a deeply flawed and abusive system that has no place in a just and humane society." As the administration continues to push for expanded detention capacity, the reopening of these shuttered prisons serves as a stark reminder of the troubling legacy and ongoing issues within the immigration enforcement system. The decision to repurpose these facilities, with their history of abuse and mismanagement, casts a long shadow over the administration's approach to immigration policy and the treatment of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge in the United States.