Judge grants temporary restraining order against CoreCivic over ICE detainee facility

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (KCTV) - Another roadblock for CoreCivic on Wednesday. A privately held company overseeing Leavenworth’s former detention center lost its day in court. A judge granted a temporary restraining order in favor of the city, essentially pausing forward motion for CoreCivic in its efforts to usher in new inmates.

CoreCivic company officials want to use the facility to house detained immigrants in Leavenworth. CoreCivic, Inc., formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America, submitted a request for a special use permit for “reactivation of the Leavenworth Detention Center, which will operate as the Midwest Regional Reception Center (MRCC).”

A look inside potential ICE detention in Leavenworth

But officials from the City of Leavenworth said a special use permit before it can use the facility as a detention center. CoreCivic has argued they never fully closed the prison, with employees continually on the premises, despite there being no inmates; therefore, the previous permit issued by the city should remain valid.

The judge said he believes there is a considerable chance the city will succeed in the case surrounding the issue of the city’s ability to govern itself, and there could be harm if the restraining order is not granted.

City of Leavenworth sues CoreCivic over ICE detention facility debate

CoreCivic previously held a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to house people in the Leavenworth facility who were charged with but not yet convicted of federal crimes. In 2021, that contract expired and was not renewed under an executive order from then-President Joe Biden.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump signed an order rescinding the prohibition on the federal government’s use of privately owned and operated detention centers.

CoreCivic first proposed housing detainees at the Leavenworth site in late February 2025.