Karina Milei celebrated the end of the transfer of prisoners from Devoto: "What a historic week we are living"

Karina Milei celebrated the conclusion of the transfer of the last inmates from the Devoto prison to the Marcos Paz penitentiary. The General Secretary of the Presidency, Karina Milei, was ecstatic with the finalization of the transfer of the last inmates from the Devoto prison to the Federal Penitentiary Complex VIII of Marcos Paz, a measure that ends nearly a century of the prison's operation. The last group consisted of 69 inmates who had remained at the facility to participate, on Wednesday, in a pastoral activity led by Pope León XIV. All will complete their sentences at the Marcos Paz complex. "What a historic week we are living! Despite the doubts of some, today we fulfilled a request of many years from the residents of Devoto: we finished the transfer of the last inmates to Marcos Paz," Karina Milei shared on her personal X account, celebrating the end of the operation. She continued: "A new stage is beginning: recovering this space for the residents and integrating it back into the neighborhood. Congratulations to our great Minister of National Security, @AleMonteoliva, and to all the security forces who participated in this enormous operation." Karina Milei's comment on social networks In turn, Minister Monteoliva joined Karina's comments, agreeing that what happened is something "historic." "Another promise fulfilled by President Milei. TMAP," the official remarked about the operation, using the acronym for the libertarian slogan "Everything goes according to plan." The emptying of the facility began yesterday at 3:30 PM, when authorities took Marcos Paz to the contingent that had been temporarily exempted from previous transfers. This measure allowed the detainees to attend the papal ceremony in the prison gymnasium. León XIV visited the prison on Wednesday morning during his trip to Argentina between November 8 and 11. He listened to the testimonies of detained people and one who had already regained his freedom. A final contingent of 69 detainees remained at the Buenos Aires prison to participate in a pastoral activity with Pope León XIV. During this pastoral activity, the Pontiff warned about "the false power that comes from easy money" and suggested that even experiences gone through pain and failure can become an opportunity to restart life. He also requested more humane and respectful conditions in penitentiary institutions, oriented toward recovery and social reintegration. In this regard, León XIV listened to the words of Reinaldo, 44, who had regained his freedom three years prior. He had been sentenced to six years in a drug case: two spent at the Magdalena prison, and the last four at Villa Devoto. He also witnessed the testimonies of Christian, 29, and Maximiliano, 32, who explained that they found a space in the prison chapel to approach faith, reflect on their mistakes, and begin to project a different life. Both expressed their remorse for the harm caused and wished to reintegrate into society. (Source) The first stage of emptying the penal unit began on October 11, with the transfer of about 1,400 inmates over five days. The 69 detainees who remained in Devoto were the only ones who waited until after the meeting with the Pope. The transfer was coordinated by the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Argentine Federal Police, the National Gendarmerie, the Argentine Naval Prefecture, and the Airport Security Police. The Villa Devoto prison closed its doors after 99 and a half years. The Villa Devoto prison ceased operations after 99 and a half years. Inaugurated in 1927, it was the scene of Argentine history events and was the last federal prison located within the City of Buenos Aires. The complex that will receive the transferred population was built on an 80-hectare plot and has four maximum security units. It has a capacity for 2,232 people. The work was delivered to the Ministry of National Security after an agreement with the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. Once the reception of the inmates from Devoto was complete, the official plan intends to transfer about 350 detainees housed in metropolitan police stations and jails to the same establishment, at the disposal of the federal justice system. The closure of the prison is part of an agreement signed in 2018 between the Nation and the City, whose execution was delayed by construction interruptions linked to changes in government.