New legislation would require approval from local authorities before opening ICE detention centers

Arizona Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego are backing new legislation that would require Homeland Security officials to get approval from local authorities before opening ICE detention centers in their areas.

The Respect for Local Communities Act would require public comment and written approval from state and local officials where ICE facilities are planned. Congressional committees would also have to be notified.

The legislation comes as DHS looks to open two new detention sites in Arizona — including at an old jail just outside Tucson, in the town of Marana.

Fronteras Desk

Protesters, Arizona leaders gather at old Marana prison slated to become ICE detention facility

Alisa Reznick

Grijalva, local leaders and a few dozen protesters gathered outside the gated-off Marana Prison complex – an old state prison sold to the for-profit Management & Training Corporation last year for $15 million.

Marana City Councilmember Patrick Cavanaugh says the building was bought by private prison company MTC and local officials were not sure at first how it would be used.

“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,” he said.

An agreement released by ICE last month outlines plans to use the jail to detain some 512 men. It was the first time the agency has publicly acknowledged its intentions at the site.

Cavanaugh was some of a few dozen people who gathered at the gated-off jail this week to oppose those plans.

Last month, the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing the new site and asked other local officials to do the same. Cavanaugh said he’d like to see the resolution adopted in Marana, but other members of the board see it as largely symbolic. He said local officials are hoping to have some oversight abilities should the facility go through.

Tucson immigration attorney Daniela Ugaz, another participant at the event this week, said ICE detention sites bring more enforcement to a local area.

“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,” Ugaz said.

A similar bill was introduced in the U.S. House last month by Democratic Representative Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, but hasn’t progressed.