When a town is on the brink of disappearing, survival can come from the most unexpected places.
For Winnfield, a quiet rural town tucked away in Louisiana, that lifeline came not from farming or industry — but from a federal immigration detention center.
Once facing economic collapse, this tiny community has been transformed by the very facility many residents once questioned.
At the heart of this revival is the Winn Correctional Center, now one of the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hubs in the country.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Fills the Facility
The shift began in earnest during Donald Trump’s presidency, as his administration vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history.
That promise meant a dramatic increase in the number of migrants being detained.
As of late May 2025, there were nearly 49,000 migrants in ICE custody.
And the Winn Correctional Center’s 1,600 beds have rarely been empty.
In Trump’s first 100 days alone, over 65,000 undocumented immigrants were deported, fueling a steady stream of detainees to Winnfield.
How a Controversial Contract Rescued a Dying Town
Back in 2019, then-Sheriff Cranford Jordan signed a contract with ICE that proved to be a turning point for Winnfield.
While some locals were skeptical at first, the financial impact was undeniable.
“They said, ‘We don’t need them in this country,’” Jordan recalled.
“‘The federal government wastes a lot of money.’ I said, ‘I agree — but why not waste it here?’”
Thanks to the deal, the town paid off a $7 million jail within four years and avoided the looming threat of bankruptcy.
ICE’s offer was generous — reportedly three times what the state had been willing to pay to house inmates.
The agency also promised to keep the facility at least 60% full.
Local Leaders Say the Money Makes a Big Difference
Current mayor Gerald “Scooter” Hamms says the ICE facility’s revenue is helping the town fulfill its core duties.
“Our primary job is public safety,” he told reporters. “And the revenue helps us do that.”
Sheriff Josh McAllister, who took over after Jordan, says the center has allowed his department to expand services across the board.
With the extra income, they’ve hired more staff, added surveillance cameras, introduced inmate programs, and even brought in a drug-sniffing dog.
“We check on our elderly residents. We give local schools resource officers — and we don’t charge them for it,” McAllister said. “Because of that facility, I can do that.”
Former Officials Admit the Town Wouldn’t Have Survived Without It
George Moss, the former mayor who once worked at the jail when it was still a state-run prison, says the community was barely holding on before ICE came in.
While some residents remain uneasy about the facility now housing immigrants, Moss is blunt: “Winn Parish probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”
He acknowledges the criticism that detention centers often face, saying, “These places have a bad name — but this one saved our town.”
Allegations of Abuse and Civil Rights Violations Cloud the Picture
Despite the financial gains, the facility has not been free from controversy.
Human rights groups have raised serious concerns about conditions inside Winn Correctional.
In October, the Department of Homeland Security’s civil rights office opened an investigation into the center.
Advocacy organizations say detainees were frequently denied access to interpreters — which left many unable to ask for medical help or report mistreatment.
One particularly disturbing allegation came from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group.
In early 2024, they reported that around 200 detainees staging a hunger strike were pepper-sprayed by officers.
A Complex Story of Survival and Compromise
Winnfield’s story is complicated. It’s about a town rescued from economic ruin by a facility many see as ethically fraught.
On one hand, it’s a story of public services restored, jobs created, and a community saved.
On the other, it’s a reminder that not every success comes without cost.
The town may have been pulled back from the edge — but at what price?