Argentina completes transfer of prisoners from Villa Devoto to Marcos Paz

The Argentine government finished moving all inmates from the historic Villa Devoto prison to a new facility in Marcos Paz.

Karina Milei, the Secretary General of the Presidency, celebrated the completion of the relocation. The move fulfills a long standing request from the residents of the Villa Devoto neighborhood. The government plans to reclaim the land to reintegrate the space into the local community. National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva confirmed that the prison, which opened in 1927, is now empty.

The final group of 75 inmates stayed at the site just before a visit by Pope Leo XIV. The relocation process began on the 11th of last month, following an agreement between national and city authorities. The new prison in Marcos Paz sits on 80 hectares of land and can hold up to 2232 detainees. While the project started in 2018, construction paused in 2020 before resuming in December 2024.

The government will now move approximately 350 additional inmates from city police stations and jails to the new site.