Thirty-five men held on immigration violations were released Monday from the Anchorage Correctional Complex and transferred to Homeland Security. The Alaska Department of Corrections confirmed the status of the Anchorage immigration detainees transferred in a statement highlighting cooperation with the federal government.
The detainees had been arrested outside of Alaska by US immigration authorities and then moved to the Anchorage facility earlier in June. Seven men had already left the facility, including two shortly after arriving, and five later transferred to detention centers in Washington state.
Alaska has an agreement with the US Marshals Service to house certain federal detainees in state-run prisons. According to the Department of Corrections financial records, as of May 1, the US government paid Alaska $233.70 per detainee daily.
The state described the recent transfers as routine and consistent with their ongoing partnership with federal law enforcement agencies. Department officials did not comment on earlier concerns about medical access or whether families had been appropriately informed of arrests.
Earlier this month, community members and immigration advocacy groups protested the detention of the men at the state-run correctional facility. Protestors raised concerns about health care, legal access, and the lack of transparency in notifying family members about detainees’ whereabouts.
Immigration advocates also questioned why individuals apprehended outside of Alaska were moved to a facility thousands of miles from their arrest location. DOC officials reiterated their willingness to continue supporting federal immigration enforcement efforts through housing and security coordination.
