MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — Community members and elected officials gathered on Tuesday to speak in opposition to a potential ICE detention facility in Marana.
This comes after ICE posted a notice of its intent to award a sole-source contract to Management and Training Corporation (MTC) to operate the former state prison in Marana as a detention facility. According to MTC, the notice is not a contract award and no final agreement has been made.
READ MORE HERE | ICE shows interest in using former prison in Marana as detention facility
MTC currently operates five ICE detention facilities across the Southwest and purchased the former state prison last year for $15 million.
In response, some community members formed PRICE — Pima Resists ICE. PRICE member Dennis Shannon, who has lived in the area for about 25 years, said the group is working on multiple fronts to stop the facility from opening.
"We are communicating with Management and Training Corporation to let them know that the community does not want this facility here,” he said. “We're also working with county and state officials to try to ensure that the detention center isn't opened," Shannon said.
U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva called for the dismantling of ICE at Tuesday's press conference.
"And instead pursue immigration policies grounded in humanity, fairness and due process," Grijalva said.
Grijalva said she will continue working with community members and the Arizona Democratic delegation to oppose the facility's reopening.
Pima County Supervisor Jennifer Allen also spoke Tuesday.
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"We know that we are on the right side of history and that our numbers continue to grow; we will fight, we are strong, and we will win," Allen said.
PRICE members said they are consulting with legal representation and are preparing to take action to prevent the contract from moving forward.
KGUN 9 reached out to ICE for comment, but we have not heard back yet.
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Madison Thomas joined KGUN 9 in July of 2023 as a multimedia journalist. She graduated from Arizona State University in May of 2023 with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She has lived in Arizona her entire life and grew up in Douglas. Madison is thrilled to share the stories from the community she grew up in. Share your story ideas and important issues with Madison by emailing madison.thomas@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
