Protests Erupt Over Planned Reopening of Rivers Correctional Institution as Immigration Detention Facility
Dozens of demonstrators gathered in Hertford County, North Carolina, to protest the planned reopening of Rivers Correctional Institution as a mass immigration detention facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Greenville New Bern Washington, NC, September 27, 2026 — Dozens of demonstrators gathered in Hertford County, North Carolina, to voice their opposition to the planned reopening of Rivers Correctional Institution. The facility is slated to be repurposed as a mass immigration detention center under the operation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The protest highlights local concerns surrounding the facility’s intended use. Rivers Correctional Institution, previously known for housing state inmates, is now set to become a site for detaining individuals subject to immigration enforcement actions by ICE. The precise date for the planned reopening was not immediately available, nor were the specific numbers of individuals expected to be detained at the facility.
Protesters convened in Hertford County to express their dissent against this development. While the exact affiliations of all participating demonstrators were not provided, the gathering indicates significant community opposition to the facility’s new role. The specific concerns articulated by the protesters beyond the general objection to a mass immigration detention center were not detailed in the summary.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been central to plans for the facility’s transition. The agency’s role in operating detention centers for immigrants is a subject of ongoing national discussion and scrutiny. Information regarding ICE’s specific operational plans for Rivers Correctional Institution, including capacity and security protocols, was not provided.
The contractor responsible for managing the facility and any associated permits or inspection outcomes were not specified. Similarly, details regarding any potential code violations, fine amounts, or subsequent actions following the protest or the facility’s planned repurposing are pending further information. The contractor’s name was not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Cade Johnson on www.witn.com, see more information here.
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