Democratic lawmakers from Arizona’s Congressional delegation are asking the Department of Homeland Security to provide more clarity about plans for an ICE detention center in Marana, just outside Tucson.
In a letter to the agency, Reps. Adelita Grijalva, Yassamin Ansari and Greg Stanton say DHS has not provided details about its plans for a facility bought by private, for-profit prison company Management & Training Corporation (MTC) last year.
The 500-bed Marana complex is a decommissioned state prison. Arizona sold it to MTC for some $15 million in July.
But the lawmakers say, despite reporting from multiple outlets that it could be turned into an ICE detention site, ICE itself has not confirmed that.
They’re asking DHS to confirm whether it has entered into or is in the process of entering a contract, agreement or other arrangement with MTC — as well as for communication or coordination it has had with local governments, like the town of Marana and Pima County.
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Emmanuel Damas, 56, died Monday at Honor Health hospital in Scottsdale after complaining of a toothache in mid-February in ICE custody. -
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement says agents arrested more than 20 people in a raid in Phoenix this week near 15th and Peoria avenues. -
President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and said he will nominate in her place Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
