JOURNAL SERVICES
The quiet Alexandria International Airport in central Louisiana has become a crucial hub in the federal government’s immigration enforcement network, handling about four charter flights daily that transport immigrant detainees across the United States while generating significant economic benefits for the region.
The ICE operations have brought substantial economic impact to the Alexandria area. The GEO Group maintains steady employment opportunities in the region, with positions ranging from security officers to program managers. Average GEO Group hourly pay ranges from approximately $10.00 per hour to $40.87 per hour for specialized positions like registered nurses, with annual salaries ranging from approximately $43,888 for compliance roles to $350,000 for physicians.
The airport operates within England Airpark, a 3,600-acre mixed-use development that serves as an economic engine for Central Louisiana, providing aviation, transportation, manufacturing, education and healthcare opportunities. The facility contributes to the regional economy through direct employment, contractor services, and support services required for the complex transportation operations.
The immigration enforcement operations support various ancillary businesses in the area, including fuel services, aircraft maintenance, catering, ground transportation, and security services. These operations provide consistent revenue streams for local vendors and service providers throughout the year.
The Alexandria Staging Facility, located at the airport about 47 miles south of Natchitoches, serves as what Immigration and Customs Enforcement calls “a 72-hour staging facility to transfer and remove individuals from the U.S. to their country of origin.”
The GEO Group, a private prison corporation under contract with ICE, operates the 400-bed facility. Large commercial aircraft — including Boeing 737-300s, 400s and 800s with capacity for 149 to 162 passengers — arrive daily from cities across the nation.
Flight tracking data shows arrivals from Newark, N.J.; Brownsville, Texas; Miami; San Antonio; Richmond, Va.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Columbus, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; and Laredo, Texas. The geographic diversity illustrates Alexandria’s role as a central consolidation point in ICE’s nationwide transportation network.
Private aviation contractors have become essential to ICE Air Operations. Eastern Air Express joined the ICE transportation network in February, according to federal records. Previously, Swiftair was documented as a primary operator at Alexandria International Airport.
The relationship between ICE and private aviation companies represents a multibillion-dollar business, creating a specialized industry focused on government contracts for immigration-related flights.
ICE emphasizes safety and security protocols in its air operations. The Alexandria facility operates under strict security measures, with restricted access and limited public information. “To preserve operational security, ICE cannot release information on pending removal flights,” the agency said in a statement.
The airport serves dual purposes: consolidating detainees arriving from across the United States and facilitating departures to other countries. Flight records show departures to Jamaica and Honduras, demonstrating the facility’s role in completing deportations.
Louisiana’s congressional delegation has acknowledged the facility’s operations. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., described the facility as “a collection point from across a region of the nation in which people are screened and then they are deported.”
The immigration enforcement transportation sector continues evolving with new contractors and changing relationships reflecting policy shifts and market dynamics. Eastern Air Express’s involvement represents the ongoing commercialization of immigration enforcement operations.
Companies have developed specialized expertise for detention transportation, security protocols and international coordination required for removal flights. This evolution has created an industry sector dedicated to government immigration contracts, providing stable employment opportunities in specialized aviation services.
The airport sector supports employment across the region, with aviation-related job opportunities extending beyond the ICE operations to include traditional airport services, military charter operations, and commercial aviation support.
Alexandria International Airport’s role illustrates the complex infrastructure underlying modern immigration enforcement. Through partnerships with private contractors and logistical coordination, the facility serves as a hub in a nationwide system for detaining and removing immigrant detainees while contributing to the local economy through sustained operations and employment.
The transformation of the regional Louisiana airport into a key federal immigration enforcement component demonstrates how immigration policy creates economic impacts across communities. The facility provides stable government contracting opportunities and supports a network of related businesses throughout Central Louisiana. As immigration policy continues evolving, facilities like Alexandria’s staging operation will likely remain central to federal enforcement efforts and continue contributing to the regional economy.
GEO Group Operations in Louisiana
Alexandria Staging Facility
96 George Thompson Drive, Alexandria, LA 71303
Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center
830 Pinehill Road, PO Box 2826, Jena, LA 71342
Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center
1133 Hampton Dupre Road, Pine Prairie, LA 70576
South Louisiana ICE Processing Center
3843 Stagg Avenue, Basile, Louisiana 70515
