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GEO Group Eyes Reopening of Rivers Correctional Institution for ICE Detention Facility

Advocates rally at the North Carolina General Assembly to oppose the potential reopening of the Rivers Correctional Institution in Hertford County as an ICE detention center.

By Colin Percy · May 26, 2026

Community organizers and faith leaders held a rally at the North Carolina General Assembly on May 26, 2026, to protest the potential expansion of federal immigration detention facilities in the state. The protest centers on concerns that the privately owned Rivers Correctional Institution in rural Hertford County may be reopened for use by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The facility has been vacant since its federal contract expired in 2021.

Legal filings from the ACLU of North Carolina suggest that the facility owner, GEO Group, has proposed reactivating the prison for federal detention use. Local advocates and nonprofit organizations are urging state lawmakers to publicly oppose the move, citing concerns over detention conditions and the impact on local communities. Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and GEO Group did not respond to requests for comment regarding the status of the facility.

Companies mentioned

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Southern Detention Center Coalition

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Brava NC

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ACLU of North Carolina

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North Carolina Council of Churches

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