Farmville Detention Center — Prince Edward County VA (CoreCivic, formerly ICA)
Overview
The Farmville Detention Center in Prince Edward County, Virginia is a 732-bed ICE detention facility that was acquired by CoreCivic on July 1, 2025 for $71.4 million from Immigration Centers of America (ICA). The IGSA runs through Prince Edward County and expires March 2029. CoreCivic projects $40M/year incremental revenue.
As of late 2025, population was approximately 712 — near capacity, more than doubling from Biden-era lows.
The Acquisition
CoreCivic’s purchase of the Farmville facility from ICA represents a structural lock-in: corporate-grade detention infrastructure secured through at least 2029, regardless of state-level political changes. Governor Spanberger can rescind state 287(g) agreements but cannot terminate a county-level IGSA or force CoreCivic to close a facility it owns.
Conditions History
The facility has been described as “notorious for brutality, abuse, and neglect” by advocacy organizations:
- Solitary confinement and staff retaliation
- Inadequate medical care
- COVID-19 catastrophe (2020): Nearly 97% of detainees infected after transfers from Florida and Arizona. Lawsuit settled 2022.
- The Free Them All VA (FTA-VA) Coalition organized in 2020 demanding closure
- Legal Aid Justice Center campaigns for shutdown
Political Context
Virginia experienced the fastest 287(g) reversal in the country:
- Feb 2025: Governor Youngkin signs EO 47 mandating full ICE cooperation
- Jan 2026: Governor Spanberger rescinds EO 47 on her first day
- Mar 2026: General Assembly passes HB1441/SB783 restricting 287(g) to judicial warrants only
But the Farmville facility operates under a county IGSA, not a state agreement — state-level restrictions don’t reach it.