Details of repurposed Virginia Jail holding Ofori-Atta

Ken Ofori-Atta held at Repurposed Virginia Jail as ICE detention continues

Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is spending the night—and potentially several days—at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, a former regional jail now used by United States immigration authorities to hold detainees under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The facility, previously known as the Peumansend Creek Regional Jail or the former Virginia Jail, has been repurposed as part of the U.S. government’s immigration detention infrastructure.

From Regional Jail to ICE Detention Centre

Originally built to serve as a regional correctional facility, the Caroline Detention Facility now houses immigration detainees under ICE contracts. It has a designed capacity of approximately 336 adult detainees, including both men and women.

Mr Ofori-Atta is among those currently being held at the centre, with his continued stay dependent on ICE population levels and administrative decisions.

One of Virginia’s Key ICE Facilities

The Caroline Detention Facility is one of two major ICE detention centres in Virginia, the other being the Farmville Detention Centre.

Both facilities have operated at consistently high occupancy levels in 2025, reflecting a broader increase in immigration detentions linked to stricter enforcement measures under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Facility Operating Beyond Capacity

As of November 28, 2025, the Caroline Detention Facility was operating above its intended capacity. Data compiled by TRAC Immigration and cited by ABC 8 News showed an average daily population of 346 detainees, exceeding the facility’s design limit by 10 individuals.

This overcrowding has added pressure to facility management and resources.

Past Criticism Over Detainee Management

The detention centre has previously faced scrutiny regarding detainee treatment and compliance with ICE standards.

A 2023 inspection found that the facility failed to comply with requirements under its Voluntary Work Program, with some detainees reportedly working beyond permitted hourly limits, raising concerns about oversight and enforcement of detainee protections.

Criminal and Non-Criminal Detainees Housed Together

Mr Ofori-Atta will share the facility with detainees of varying classifications. According to the most recent data, 120 inmates at the centre are classified as criminals.

He is part of the remaining 226 detainees categorised as Non-Criminal Detainees (NCDs), highlighting the mixed population housed within the facility.

Detention Amid Immigration Enforcement Push

Mr Ofori-Atta’s detention comes amid heightened immigration enforcement across the United States, as ICE facilities nationwide report rising detainee numbers.

For now, the former finance minister remains at the Caroline Detention Facility as his immigration status is addressed by U.S. authorities.