No Private CCA / ICE Immigrant Prison in SW Ranches: Senator LeMieux Opposes SWR Detention Center

The Town of Southwest Ranches, Corrections Corporation of American (CCA), and DHS / ICE want to build one of the largest immigration detention centers in the nation within walking distance of thousands of homes; thus, reducing the quality of our life and our community. We do not agree with the federal government privatizing our immigration detention centers throughout the nation when there is clear evidence that privatizing our prisons creates a clear public safety threat. For ICE to continue to privatize these institutions and bring this safety threat through their "secure communities Initiative" to our community is unacceptable. Depriving someone of their liberty is a non-delegable governmental function and privatizing of such a function is infecting our nation like a virus.

The Town of Southwest Ranches has now entered into it's THIRD Fire Contract within the last year now with the Town of Davie, costing taxpayers $120,000 in ramp up fees. They are now closing several roads in western Southwest Ranches charging the tax payers $80,000 for the gates. They have paid an unknown amount of money for lobbying with ICE regarding this prison. They have several lawsuits against the Town, 1- Involving Open Meeting Violations on a November 5th meeting concerning the ICE Detention Center, 2- Open Records Violations, and 3- The Town is putting together a lawsuit to sue Pembroke Pines for breach of contract because the City utilized their exit clause and cancelled for convenience their Fire/EMS contract which included water and sewer at the last minute for the CCA prison. In the contract it states that there should be no third party beneficiaries. CCA would be a third party in this instance.

CCA has also filed suit in Federal court against the City of Pembroke Pines saying they are denying them water however the City had never seen a water application. The City did file for a Declaratory Judgement in State Court but that has been put on hold until the Federal Court hears the suit from CCA.

Is ANYONE CONFUSED as to why the Pembroke Pines/Southwest Ranches Fire Agreement was cancelled? The Town Attorney Keith Poliakoff attempted to "slip" into the agreement a portion that guaranteed water for the prison at CCA's request. This is something that should have been brought up separately. CCA should have brought it forward on their own in a water application. This is sleight of hand that CCA and the Town attempted to do because they were so afraid of CCA being on the Pembroke Pines agenda.

As of June 2012, ICE put out a statement that the site selection was no longer needed due to the fact that the extra bedspace was no longer needed. READ UPDATE HERE!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Senator LeMieux Opposes SWR Detention Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Anna Nix
December 8, 2011
954-608-0520

LeMieux: Nelson Blatantly Ignoring Pleas of his Constituents

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – George LeMieux today released a statement opposing the proposed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Southwest Ranches.

On April 8, 2011, Senator Bill Nelson wrote a letter to Gary Mead, Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, supporting the project. His constituents have come out in strong opposition to the detention center, yet Bill Nelson refuses to withdraw his support.

“The residents of Southwest Ranches and Pembroke Pines are clearly and adamantly against building a prison on the edge of their bedroom communities,” said George LeMieux. “By supporting this project, Bill Nelson is blatantly ignoring the pleas of his constituents. I know that being a United States Senator means protecting your constituents, yet Bill Nelson continues to support a highly unpopular and potentially dangerous prison in a residential neighborhood. It is time Nelson starts listening to his constituents and does what is right.”

Ryann Greenberg, member of the anti-prison residents group and Pembroke Pines resident said, “A November 5 ICE informational meeting proved that only four citizens out of over 330 support the detention center. Forcing this prison in our community is a travesty of democracy and open government. We The People will not stand for this type of corruption. The citizens ask any and all federal elected officials to withdraw their support for the facility immediately. This is not a time to play politics, but to stand up for what is right."

For more information regarding the citizens’ opposition to the ICE Detention Center, please visit www.noprisonswr.org.

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