Indiana to Provide 1,000 Prison Beds for ICE Under Expanded Deportation Plan

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Indiana has committed to offering up to 1,000 prison beds at the soon-to-open Miami Correctional Center to house immigration detainees, as part of a sweeping expansion of federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The facility, already dubbed the “Speedway Slammer,” is set to become a key hub in accelerating deportations across the Midwest.

Governor Mike Braun confirmed the move as part of a broader partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Through newly enacted 287(g) agreements, Indiana agencies, including the State Police, Department of Corrections, Homeland Security, and National Guard, are now authorized to support federal immigration enforcement efforts across the state.

The decision comes amid a sharp rise in immigration arrests. In six months, nearly 1,400 individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were detained in Indiana, reflecting an 80 percent increase from the previous year. Notably, the majority of those arrested had no criminal record.

Facilities such as the Marion County Jail have seen a surge in detainee populations. Between January and April alone, 438 people were held on ICE-related detentions at that single location, often for extended periods. Critics argue this undermines the jail’s reputation for justice reforms and risks diverting local resources toward federal priorities.

Indiana had previously limited its cooperation with ICE to a few jurisdictions, but that posture has shifted dramatically under new executive orders issued earlier this year. The state now joins over 800 others nationwide participating in enforcement partnerships, with local and state agencies taking a more direct role in immigration crackdowns.

Advocacy groups warn that the growing use of state prisons for civil immigration detention blurs the line between criminal justice and administrative enforcement. Many detainees are held without formal charges, and protesters have raised concerns about due process, transparency, and the broader human cost of the expanded policies.

Supporters of the initiative argue that it ensures adherence to immigration laws and bolsters public safety by prioritising the removal of individuals with criminal convictions. Opponents counter that it risks undermining constitutional protections and disproportionately affects communities with longstanding ties to the state.