The private prison company had previously argued it didn't need a permit to operate the now-idle prison as a detention center for immigration detainees. Now, CoreCivic says it will apply for the special use permit.

Private prison company CoreCivic has applied for a permit to hold immigration detainees at its dormant Leavenworth facility, the city said on Monday.

The move comes after months of legal battles over the 1,000-bed detention center, which CoreCivic seeks to operate on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In a statement, CoreCivic spokesperson Brian Todd said the company has not conceded its claim that a permit is unnecessary to reopen the facility, which it recently renamed the Midwest Regional Reception Center.

“In an effort to meet the urgent needs of the fede

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