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* Pantagraph…
The Dwight Planning Commission will consider an annexation agreement later this month that could be the first step in bringing a federal detention center for illegal immigrants to the Livingston County village. […]
Immigration Centers of America, headquartered in Richmond, Va., has contacted village officials about an 88-acre parcel of land near Interstate 55 and Illinois 17 for a federal center to house 1,200 men awaiting immigration hearings.
The facility would be managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). […]
If the detention center is built, Anderson said, the estimated $20 million facility would employ about 280 people.
* I asked the governor’s press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh for a response…
Governor Pritzker strongly opposes any action that would allow President Trump to advance his anti-immigrant agenda. The administration will closely monitor and oppose this effort going forward.
*** UPDATE *** From Fred Tsao at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights…
The for-profit immigration prison being proposed in Dwight has already been rejected throughout northern Illinois and Indiana, from Crete, Joliet, and Hopkins Park in Illinois to Hobart, Gary, Roselawn, and Elkhart County in Indiana. Several of these communities could use an economic boost. Yet the people and elected leaders in these communities recognized that these prisons are wrong on so many levels, including economically and morally. They realize that private prisons leave a trail of devastation as the promises of economic benefit do not materialize. They realize that private prison companies are only interested in making profits, and are all too eager to cut corners to do so, even if it hurts their host community. And they realize that the facility would be used for jailing people torn from their families, workplaces, and communities, people who have no business being locked away, especially for someone else’s profit. We hope that the leaders of Dwight will come to the same realization and reject this proposal.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 10:58 am
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Doesn’t state law prohibit private correctional facilities?
Comment by Cornfield Cowboy Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:06 am
Former IL Women’s Prison is at that intersection. Is that the targeted site ?
Comment by Red Ketcher Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:07 am
So, it’s a decision, based on politics, right?
What “agenda” is he imagining?
For three years, we’ve been told that this president is going to round up illegal immigrants like the 100,000 American citizens Roosevelt rounded up for years during the 1940s or the thousands interred by Wilson during WWI.
Just closely monitor the situation and oppose any efforts that run similarly to FDRs or Wilsons. Those were flatly illegal, btw. We’ve paid victims millions, thanks to their unconstitutional acts.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:08 am
ICE agents are not responsible for Trump. If Federal dollars and jobs come to IL, great.
Let’s just hope there isn’t another shutdown.
We can enforce immigration law in a humane manner. I wish our Prez would just do that and not the hurtful and cruel things he has done.
Of course Illinois should welcome facilities being placed here. It’s a great state.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:12 am
Hey JB, immigration is a federal issue. You just worry about how high you’re going to raise the state income tax.
Comment by Fuel For the Fire Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:13 am
Red Ketcher- No.
From the Pantagraph article
“The proposal does not include the vacant Dwight Correctional Center, a state women’s prison that was closed in 2013 by the Illinois Department of Corrections in a cost-cutting move.”
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:15 am
This pits the Gov against jobs in that community. Not sure what the economic temperature there is, but suspect they could use the jobs.
Appears they need regional places to house people pending their hearings. Using a facility that’s closed is probably more cost-efficient. We’ll see what the local planners say. Appears to be between them and the Feds without regard to the Gov, like any Federal installation.
Might just be an opportunity for Jordan and Jay to speak out without any particular influence on the project.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:18 am
Isn’t ICE currently paying local county jails to house these people? Wouldn’t this cut into that action?
I’m OK with the Governor telling ICE they aren’t wanted here, but I have a feeling Livingston County is counting on the cash.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:19 am
Wow, what a rough crowd. Would this facility be for parents only, with the children placed in foster care never to be reunited with their parents?
Comment by the Edge Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:19 am
JB is right to oppose it. Instead of building facilities to house immigrants awaiting immigration hearings, maybe he ought to use the money to hire more immigration court personnel to address the backlog of cases awaiting adjudication.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:21 am
== Would this facility be for parents only==
Above it states 1200 MEN.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:21 am
This is likely for Illegal Immigrants who have been arrested for a crime and their status became known after the arrest. I may be wrong, but that’s what I heard on the radio this morning.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:25 am
–For three years, we’ve been told that this president is going to round up illegal immigrants like the 100,000 American citizens Roosevelt rounded up for years during the 1940s or the thousands interred by Wilson during WWI.–
I don’t recall FDR or Wilson in the discussion. And you realize your statement makes no sense?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:33 am
And what does the local Congressman and the area members of the GA have to say about this?
Comment by illini Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:34 am
Oof, that is some spin V-Man. You forget that FDR and Woodrow Wilson made decisions, even if wrong in hindsight, in the heat of a honest to god World War.
President Trump has spent his years in office trying to manufacture crises — a crisis at the southern border, a crisis from travel from Muslim countries, a crisis with NATO. Except none of these crises exist. And Trump’s goal is obviously to pressure Congress into abolishing legal asylum, to destroy the NATO alliance, to destroy the international order that the United States established after WWII. Why? Why would Mr. MAGA want to destroy US power? Why would he want to tear down the order that brought peace to Europe, defeated communism, and made the US the only superpower in the world?
Why?
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:35 am
@wordslinger - Pritzker doesn’t have to imagine anything about ICE. Just read/watch the news.
The child separation policy as imagined and executed by Trump’s administration is horrific.
Then you have ICE sending out notices with fake court dates for immigration hearings.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:36 am
eek I meant that comment for vman not wordslinger. my apologies, wordslinger
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:38 am
Lots of fire in this thread. I think JB should be applauded for his clear stance here. I happen to agree with his stance.
“Manufacturing crises” is what you say when you don’t have actual criticism, or else you’d acknowledge that the Illinois General Assembly manufactured a crisis rather than attempt to negotiate common-sense and, in many cases, reasonably popular reforms. If that sounds ridiculous to you, then Trump “manufacturing a crisis” should too.
Comment by Chris Widger Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:40 am
Immigration Centers of America runs the ICE facility in Farmville Virginia. They pay the town $1 a day for each resident. It’s a ‘civil detention facility’, meaning those charged with crimes are NOT housed there.
Why are we locking these people up?
Comment by northsider (the original) Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:41 am
@Anonymous@11:12 - get a name if you want any of us to take you seriously.
Comment by illini Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:47 am
==we’ve been told ==
The President has already implemented the egregious policy of separating families and throwing kids in detention facilities away from their parents. It’s pretty laughable for you to try and spin this.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:48 am
==Why are we locking these people up?==
For their, and our, protection while we process them.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:48 am
===For their, and our, protection while we process them.===
Lol. Also sad and pathetic.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:49 am
It starts with these private prison folks wining & dining the local mayors and promising the moon for their communities. Then, the citizens learn how the game is played and realize it is bad for their communities - they would become a prison town. Good businesses move out and the seedy ones come in. Services, such as police, fire, ambulance are stressed out. The roads take a beating. The area is less safe and these prisons are horrific polluters. The great jobs are not so hot and turnover is high. People realize making money for these guys is not worth wrecking their peaceful community. And, it’s really rotten for the people who get rounded up and dumped in these crummy prisons. As usual, pie in the sky offers are but a sort of scam.
Comment by Anthony Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:53 am
I don’t see how thousands of illegal aliens approaching, and crossing the U.S. border is a manufactured crisis. They are there, and thousands are crossing illegally. The U.S. need some way to screen these individuals. If centers need to be set up to do this, I believe it is valid. Upstate Illinois would allow these individuals access to the federal courts in Chicago. Seems like a good location.
Comment by Retired Educator Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 11:56 am
A private prison is really more of a Shelbyville idea…
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:01 pm
I think the update pretty much says it all.
The Trump administration is gearing up for long-term detention of masses of immigrants (btw, those anticipated for Dwight sound to me like non-criminals who are awaiting immigration hearings, not criminals), and they’re looking to spread holding centers out across the U.S.
This prison would be federal but privately operated, which reflects overall the trend for fed detention centers to privatize, and the operators would be seeking a maximum profit at minimum cost, as private prison contractors are wont to do.
The conditions in these prisons are not good, and I don’t think the state could do much of anything to alleviate them once the operation was up and running.
Comment by dbk Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:07 pm
There are parts of government that should not be privatized, such as law enforcement and correctional facilities.
Comment by the Edge Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:08 pm
If it is going to happen can’t we look at existing vacant facilities for conversion/rehab opportunities?
I’m sure CMS can draft a favorable lease for the taxpayers. /s
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:21 pm
~If Federal dollars and jobs come to IL, great.
Really? Any kind of federal job?
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:31 pm
Illinois: we’d prefer somewhere else get federal dollars .
Comment by Steve Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:38 pm
Anthony, they are talking about Dwight which once had a prison. Local residents most likely know what to expect.
Livingston County residents already have huge prison headaches as detailed here on Capitol Fax with all the problems at Pontiac.
There is way too much private profit potential for a very few on this scheme. I hope Livingston County and Dwight send them packing.
Comment by Abbey Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:42 pm
“Just closely monitor the situation and oppose any efforts that run similarly to FDRs or Wilsons. Those were flatly illegal, btw.”
The United States Supreme Court said otherwise in its 6–3 decision in Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1944).
The Court’s decision was immoral, racist and wrong, but the Court is the final arbiter of what is and isn’t illegal in the United States.
For good and for ill.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:47 pm
–Isn’t ICE currently paying local county jails to house these people? Wouldn’t this cut into that action?–
Yes and yes.
Rather than underwrite a new, private, for-profit prison, perhaps the federales would be better-served directing funds to comply with a court order to account for and reunite thousands of children that were separated from their families as a way to deter future asylum seekers.
The Trump administration argued in court last week that they do not have the personnel or money to even find all the children that have been separated, much less reunite them with their families.
Give that last one a real, deep, think.
On our watch, folks.
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/02/05/trump-admin-reuniting-migrant-families-may-not-be-possible/
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 12:51 pm
No additional ICE presence in Illinois should be welcomed.
Comment by Stark Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:13 pm
===I don’t see how thousands of illegal aliens approaching, and crossing the U.S. border is a manufactured crisis. ===
I’d just like to point out that migrant caravans didn’t exist pre-Trump, and had Trump never been elected, they likely wouldn’t exist today.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:15 pm
Joe then explain to me how over 20 million illegals got here before Trump was elected. They have been coming for decades, this is not a Trump problem, this is a problem that all Presidents faced, and some ignored.
Comment by Retired Educator Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:20 pm
===I don’t see how thousands of illegal aliens approaching, and crossing the U.S. border is a manufactured crisis. ===
Then you’ll be happy to know that illegal border crossing have been declining for decades and are now at a near 50-year low.
Sleep better.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/fact-check-trump-border-crossings-declining-.html
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:29 pm
RE-
a) read what word just posted
b) they came over the border as individuals, families, and/or overstayed visas. they didn’t come in caravans. kind of ironic how Trump inspired that, huh?
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:32 pm
Frontline did a very good job in its program on MS-13 in explaining how immigrants, especially young men, with no actual contacts to MS-13 are being swept up and but in detention centers. I am skeptical whether we need more immigration detention centers. Now I’ve said my peace on the national issues.
I feel some sympathy for Dwight. It is hard for a small town to find big employers, and they probably just see the jobs and not the immigration issues. I don’t see Gov. Pritzker getting behind it, which will probably make it difficult to happen.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:35 pm
==Joe then explain to me how over 20 million illegals got here before Trump was elected.==
Lol. Their presence is such a “crisis” that American construction, industrial agriculture, and restaurant industries have been employing them by the hundreds of thousands for decades. Their presence is such a crisis that, if they all up and left tomorrow, those three industries would shrivel up and die.
If you don’t believe me, ask President Trump, who used illegal immigrant labor to build some of his buildings.
Comment by PJ Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:41 pm
Anti-immigrant agenda? Miss Abudeyah is laboring under a severe misapprehension. There is an anti-illegal immigrant agenda, as there should be. There is a difference and it is not semantics.
Comment by Captain Obvious Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 1:56 pm
==There is an anti-illegal immigrant agenda==
Lol. You go with that. Do some research on one of Trump’s lead advisors on immigration - Stephen Miller - and then get back to us. You can also look at some of their proposals, which include cutting legal immigration.
So, yeah, I’d say it’s an anti-immigrant agenda.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 3:04 pm
@ Captain Obvious - The feds are actively discouraging and preventing people from seeking legal asylum. The individuals who are in the process of legally seeking asylum and have committed no crimes are being locked up separately from their children, reunited and released only when they sign paperwork saying that they entered the country illegally, which prevents them from legally immigrating in the future. The fact that you do not see that this is -obviously- the case is somewhat… ironic.
Comment by Notorious RBG Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 3:24 pm
I didnt know this was a privately-run facility. I stand corrected. Fight this tooth and nail.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 3:31 pm
Uhhh Governor, pretty sure Tamms is available.
Thinking JB is on track to get Trump within 5 pts in 2020.
Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 3:33 pm
–If you don’t believe me, ask President Trump, who used illegal immigrant labor to build some of his buildings.–
And still at his golf courses, today. Wonder about his hotels and restaurants.
Perhaps ICE should get on it. Certainly probable cause has been established.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/purge-of-undocumented-workers-by-the-presidents-company-spreads-to-at-least-5-trump-golf-courses/2019/02/04/99454e4a-2690-11e9-ba08-caf4ff5a3433_story.html?utm_term=.e04d4a71354b
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 3:55 pm
===Yet the people and elected leaders in these communities recognized that these prisons are wrong on so many levels, including economically and morally.===
You might leave out the elected leaders in that statement. At least a few of them were gun-ho for the local investment in their communities until people in their communities voiced their objections.
Comment by Been There Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 4:23 pm
The GA and Pritzker should block this. Conservatives are going to continue to get the vapors any time they hear the term “immigrant” anyway, it’s a Pavlovian response at this point. Jeannie would be Gov right now if Illinoisans cared what conservatives had to say on immigration matters
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 4:24 pm
Typifies our politics of today. Dem Senators and Reps advocate for and pass legislation to require ICE provide better care for detainees as ann alternative to being housed in county jails. Dem President signs the legislation. Companies work to find locations to build the facilities and provide the better care. Dem groups don’t like Trump immigration policies so protest the proposed facility. Dem elected officials speak out in opposition to the proposal. Detainees continue living in county jails that don’t meet the standard Dem elected officials want to be met.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 5:47 pm
Demoralized, Trump has proposed increasing legal immigration, so I guess your head is where it usually is.
Comment by Cornfed Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 10:50 pm
Indiana turning down a prison is one of the strangest things I’ve seen. And that is saying something, my friends.
Comment by Southside Markie Thursday, Feb 7, 19 @ 10:54 pm
Why not use an empty facility and collect rent? State has plenty of those around. Either that or demolish these places and sell the land. Cost to much to maintain them if they are not being used for something.
Comment by theCardinal Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 8:30 am
–Demoralized, Trump has proposed increasing legal immigration, so I guess your head is where it usually is.–
Hate to break it to you, but sometimes there’s a difference between what people say and what they do.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/my-whole-town-practically-lived-there-from-costa-rica-to-new-jersey-a-pipeline-of-illegal-workers-for-trump-goes-back-years/2019/02/08/8cdbc1dc-2971-11e9-97b3-ae59fbae7960_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.91f4ac205be3
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 3:20 pm