Planned ICE facility near Alexandria could begin operating as early as August
A planned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility at a former military base near Alexandria International Airport could begin operating as early as August, according to an Associated Press report published July 6.
ICE officials signed a contract in late June for the facility, which is intended to hold migrant families and unaccompanied children during final processing before removal flights. The contractor is identified as the LaSalle Family Foundation, a nonprofit arm.
The available evidence does not establish that the facility was operating by Aug. 7. Its capacity, staffing level, exact address, operating standards and role for local government have not been confirmed in the approved reporting.
What the facility is intended to do
According to AP, the facility is designed to reduce logistical problems involved in moving children between foster homes or shelters and locations where flights are processed. The planned site is roughly 175 miles northwest of New Orleans and is directly tied to the Alexandria airport area.
That location would bring a major federal immigration operation to the former military base near the airport. The project could affect airport-area logistics, federal contracting, local services and workers involved in the operation, while connecting the region to a broader immigration-processing system.
The approved evidence does not show whether Alexandria officials have approved or opposed the project. It also does not establish the facility’s expected number of residents, employees or flights. Those details should not be inferred from the contract or the proposed use.
Near-term local oversight dates
The City of Alexandria’s official 2026 meeting schedule lists City Council meetings for Aug. 11 and Aug. 25. Both meetings are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 915 Third St. in Alexandria.
Those dates are the next identified opportunities on the city’s published calendar for residents and local officials to raise questions in a public council setting. The meeting schedule itself does not indicate whether the facility will be on either agenda or whether the council has a formal role in the project.
For now, the key date remains a possibility rather than a confirmed opening: AP reported that the facility could be operational as early as August 2026, while the available evidence does not confirm an operating date or current occupancy.
Sources
- A new ICE facility could speed up deportations for families and kids, Associated Press
- Alexandria City Council 2026 Meeting Schedule, City of Alexandria, Louisiana
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