Arizona Lawmakers Push for Local Approval on New ICE Detention Centers
In a move that underscores the importance of local governance, Arizona Democratic Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego are championing a legislative proposal that aims to give local authorities a say in the establishment of ICE detention facilities in their communities.
The proposed Respect for Local Communities Act stipulates that public feedback and formal approval from state and local entities must be secured before any ICE facility can be set up. It also mandates informing congressional committees about such plans. This initiative coincides with the Department of Homeland Security’s intentions to inaugurate two new detention centers in Arizona, one of which is planned at a former prison location in Marana, near Tucson.
Recently, a gathering of concerned citizens, including Representative Ruben Gallego and Marana City Councilmember Patrick Cavanaugh, convened outside the Marana Prison complex. This facility, a state prison sold last year to Management & Training Corporation for $15 million, is now slated to become an ICE detention center.
Cavanaugh expressed surprise upon learning of the facility’s intended use, stating, “They own it. And they bought it for 15 million. We were hoping they’d just come in and just convert it back to a minimum security prison, but we found out it’s going to be an ICE detention center.”
The disclosure of ICE’s plans to utilize the complex to detain approximately 512 men was confirmed through an agreement released last month. This announcement marked the first public acknowledgment of ICE’s intentions at the site.
Opposition to the proposal is strong, as demonstrated by recent protests and the Pima County Board of Supervisors’ resolution against the new detention center. Although Cavanaugh hopes for a similar resolution in Marana, he acknowledged that some board members view it as a symbolic gesture. He emphasized the importance of local oversight if the facility proceeds.
Tucson-based immigration attorney Daniela Ugaz, who also attended the protest, raised concerns about the broader implications of such facilities. “And the more facilities there are like this, the more pressure there is for police forces or any kind of law enforcement to work with immigration to force new contracts,” she remarked.
While the bill gains attention in Arizona, a related proposal introduced in the U.S. House by Representative Chris Pappas of New Hampshire has yet to advance.
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