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Burleigh County Detention Center — Largest ND jail, ICE surge straining capacity

Burleigh, ND FIPS 38015
555 beds
Bed capacity
Operator: Burleigh County Sheriff's Department

Overview

The Burleigh County Detention Center in Bismarck — operated jointly with Morton County as the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center — is the largest county jail in North Dakota with 555-bed maximum capacity. It has worked with ICE for decades but is experiencing unprecedented strain as the national detention surge pushes more detainees into local jails for longer stays.

Key Details

  • Location: 4000 Apple Creek Road, Bismarck, ND 58504 (FIPS 38015)
  • Maximum capacity: 555 beds
  • Average daily population (2025): 320
  • ICE detainees: Holding ~17 steady, ranging 20-30 at peak (2025-2026)
  • Per diem rate: $115/day per detainee (per Burleigh County officials)
  • Historical use: Short-term holds (hours to 1-2 days)
  • Current pattern: Longer stays due to national bed shortage

Detention Surge Impact

The Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department has worked with ICE for decades, but the national surge in immigration enforcement has fundamentally changed the facility’s role:

  • Previously held ICE detainees for hours or 1-2 days maximum
  • Now holding detainees for extended periods due to bed shortages nationwide
  • Peaked at ~30 ICE detainees, currently holding steady around 17
  • The change is directly tied to the 75% national increase in ICE detention (Jan 2025 to Jan 2026)

Financial Context

ICE pays $115/day per detainee. County officials say the county benefits financially from the arrangement, though community members have expressed concern about costs and capacity impacts on local criminal justice functions.

Detainees held at Burleigh-Morton are subject to the Eighth Circuit’s March 25, 2026 ruling allowing mandatory detention without bond hearings, which is binding in North Dakota and overrides the earlier district-court bond-hearing orders from Judges Hovland and Erickson. See bond-hearing-circuit-split-2026.

Sources

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Last updated: Jul 3, 2026