Alexandria Airpark to Transform into Migrant Family Holding Center

Alexandria’s England Airpark is set to become a short-term holding center for migrant families and unaccompanied minors. The airpark’s board approved a lease this month to convert an unused military barracks into a facility for migrants awaiting processing. The center aims to accommodate individuals for a period of three to five days before their removal from the United States.

The plan, which has faced significant opposition from immigrant rights advocates, will utilize a three-story barracks located adjacent to the airpark’s runway. Local officials indicated that lease agreements with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and associated contractors are nearing completion. The commissioners voted almost unanimously to approve a five-year lease covering about 10 acres, with an expected annual revenue exceeding $535,000.

Concerns Over Management and Oversight

The facility will be operated by the LaSalle Family Foundation, a nonprofit with ties to the private corrections company LaSalle, in partnership with Texas-based Compass Connections. This partnership has raised alarms due to LaSalle Corrections’ recent legal troubles, including a federal jury awarding $42.75 million in a civil case concerning an in-custody death in 2015, as reported by the Associated Press. Critics argue that this history raises questions about the potential oversight and safety standards at the airpark facility.

Supporters assert that the center is intended solely for individuals who agree to “voluntary self-deportation.” However, immigrant rights advocates counter that this designation can obscure the coercive nature of the process. One advocate stated, “We’ve heard story after story of immigrant families who have been really coerced into signing voluntary departure forms,” highlighting concerns that the proposed center could lead to the “disappearance” of families and children under the guise of providing services.

Funding and Legal Implications

The establishment of facilities like the one at England Airpark is bolstered by a surge in federal funding. The reconciliation package, often referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill, allocates approximately $170.7 billion for immigration and border-related expenditures, including $45 billion specifically for detention capacity, according to the American Immigration Council. Recent analyses suggest that this increased enforcement pressure may already be altering outcomes for migrants, with a CBS News report indicating that 28% of completed removal cases involving detained migrants ended in voluntary departure in 2025.

Public presentations regarding the project have also flagged environmental concerns, including the presence of asbestos at the barracks site. Community members have expressed apprehensions about the lack of details surrounding oversight and medical care provisions. Civil rights groups emphasize that even short periods in custody can hinder families’ access to legal support, particularly if they are distanced from attorneys and community resources.

As the project moves toward final execution of the lease, local advocates are keenly monitoring developments. They plan to advocate for independent oversight and public transparency regarding operations within the facility. Airport officials maintain that the center’s purpose is to expedite processing and provide essential services during migrants’ final days in the United States. The ongoing discourse raises critical questions for Alexandria residents about the future of immigration enforcement in their community and the broader implications of hosting such a facility.