City of Leavenworth files new lawsuit against CoreCivic after judge throws out previous suit
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The City of Leavenworth, Kansas, is once again suing CoreCivic – the corporation that's trying to turn a vacant facility into an ICE detention center.
This comes after the city previously sued CoreCivic in March, claiming the company was trying to reopen the facility without acquiring the necessary permit from the city.
Former Leavenworth Detention Center worker recounts brutal attack
An agreement was reached in mid-April – in which CoreCivic said it would not house immigration detainees in the facility until at least a month-and-a-half (June). However, on May 23, a judge threw out the lawsuit.
This new lawsuit argues again that CoreCivic is trying to bypass Leavenworth law and reopen the facility without first obtaining the necessary city permit.
CoreCivic has owned the now-vacant property since 1992. Until 2021, it operated a detention facility at the property.
'During this time, CoreCivic became embroiled in multiple widely publicized scandals resulting from its gross mismanagement of the facility and the ensuing rampant abuse, violence, and violations of the constitutional rights of its detainees and staff,' the lawsuit states.
You can read more about that here.
The city says in the lawsuit that CoreCivic's mismanagement impacted the city in countless ways, including:
By imposing unexpected maintenance costs on its taxpayers
Increasing the burden on the city's police and law enforcement
Impeding the city's investigation of sexual assaults and other violent crimes against detainees and staff
After CoreCivic initially applied for the city permit, the lawsuit says it then withdrew its application less than a month later.
'It (CoreCivic) has now taken the position that it need not seek or obtain a special use permit and that it plans to start housing detainees at the facility at some point in the immediate future, all in violation of the city's lawfully enacted ordinances,' the lawsuit reads.
CoreCivic claims that its contract with ICE allows it to bypass Leavenworth law.
'In other words, CoreCivic refuses to comply with the city's permitting process because, it contends, it will take too long to do so,' the city argues in the lawsuit.
For more background information on CoreCivic and the 'scandals' it was involved in, click here.
The city is also suing Misty Lynn Mackey, the warden of the Midwest Regional Reception Center – as well as the employees, contractors and/or agents of CoreCivic – for 'aiding, abetting, and conspiring with CoreCivic to violate the city's development regulations.'
The city is asking the court to enter a temporary restraining order or injunction to stop CoreCivic from housing any detainees in the facility without applying for and obtaining a special use permit from the city.
This lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Leavenworth County, Kansas, on May 23, 2025 (case no. LV-2025-CV-000180).City of Leavenworth files lawsuit against CoreCivic for attempting to open ICE facility without permit
Former Leavenworth Detention Center worker recounts brutal attack
City of Leavenworth and CoreCivic come to agreement on ICE facility
Judge throws out suit against CoreCivic's proposed ICE detention center
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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