The United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on Aug. 5 that the Trump administration had determined the location of its next “Alligator Alcatraz,” as Indiana’s Miami Correctional Facility, dubbing it the “Speedway Slammer.”
“COMING SOON to Indiana: The Speedway Slammer. Today, we’re announcing a new partnership with the state of Indiana to expand detention bed space by 1,000 beds. Thanks to @GovBraun for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country. If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Indiana’s Speedway Slammer. Avoid arrest and self deport now using the @CBP Home App,” Noem said in a statement on X.
This news follows the announcement Gov. Mike Braun’s office made on Aug. 1 that the Indiana Department of Correction would add 1,000 beds at the Miami Correctional Facility for immigrant detainees and push forward on the executive order he signed in January. Braun directed Indiana law enforcement agencies to “fully cooperate” with the federal crackdown on illegal immigration, including investigating, arresting and detaining undocumented immigrants.
“We are proud to work with President Trump and Secretary Noem as they remove the worst of the worst with this innovative partnership. Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states,” said Braun in a statement to Fox News about the announcement.
The Miami Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison located at the former Grissom Air Force Base about 70 miles north of Indianapolis, can house up to about 3,100 people. Annie Goeller, chief communications officer for IDOC, said part of the facility has not been filled because of a staffing shortage.
More: IDOC prison to house up to 1,000 immigrant detainees as part of effort to ramp up arrests
Concerns of immigration enforcement activities in Indiana
In recent months, Indiana residents and local advocacy groups have raised concerns about the state’s growing involvement with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement goals.
On July 15, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined plans to use Camp Atterbury as one of two new sites that would be used to temporarily hold “illegal aliens” for the Department of Homeland Security.
The Trump administration is prepared to hold up to 1,000 ICE detainees at this military facility, according to Democratic U.S. Rep André Carson.
Braun told IndyStar that as of Aug. 5, the Trump administration has not established a timeline for when it will move forward on converting the military base into an immigration detention center
“When it comes to our state, we’re going to cooperate when it comes to what I’ve said before, as we’re housing detainees that have broken the law after they entered illegally, we’re going to cooperate with the federal government,” Braun told the IndyStar. “When it comes to any of the other issues on due process and so forth, we want to make sure we’re doing that the right way as well.”
Noe Padilla is a Public Safety reporter for IndyStar. Contact him at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoerPadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.
IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana’s immigration detention center dubbed the ‘Speedway Slammer’
