Residents voice concern over approval of ICE detention facility in West Tennessee
MASON, Tenn. — In an update, we want to clarify a story from Tuesday regarding the operation of an immigration detention facility in Tipton County.
The town of Mason’s Board of Aldermen voted to approve a contract with CoreCivic to reopen the West Tennessee Detention Facility to house federal inmates.
In a heated board meeting for the town of Mason Tuesday, a contract was approved for CoreCivic to operate a former West Tennessee prison as an immigration detention facility.
Two contracts were voted on at the meeting–one between the town and CoreCivic, a private prison corporation, and one between the town and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE.
After a frenzied back and forth with residents, board members, and Mayor Eddie Noeman, the board approved the CoreCivic contract 4 to 1, with two who did not vote.
The ICE contract passed 3 to 2 with two non-votes. Members from the crowd could be heard yelling “Where’s the contract?,” with claims to have not had it presented to the public.
One town official says residents should have been notified of the situation.
Alderwoman Virginia Rivers says she supports deporting criminals, however, she believes those that are being taken in by ICE are “lawful citizens who are living peaceful lives without any criminal background.”
And as the debate intensified over the potential impact on the community, Rivers expressed strong opposition to the partnership. “Entering a contract with CoreCivic and ICE will make our city complicit in the abusive treatment of immigrants. In my opinion, we are better than that,” said Rivers.
But not everyone on the board shared those concerns—another member of council emphasized her commitment to representing the voices of local residents who see economic benefits in the move.
“To do what’s right for the town. Not to follow my agenda, but to follow theirs. They have spoken to me and they want to see the prison open for the town’s revenue and for our future growth,” said Alethea Harris, alderwoman.
Mayor Eddie Noeman also weighed in, stressing that the decision was about prioritizing the town’s needs, while sharing his own personal perspective as an immigrant himself.
“We’re trying to take care of our citizens..Of our city. It’s nothing personal about any immigrants. I am an immigrant. I am doing whatever i am supposed to do,” said Mayor Noeman.
Beyond the board, a nearby resident and ordained elder in Fayette County voiced deep concerns about the broader implications for immigrants and the role of facilities like this one.
“The White House administration has labeled them as notorious, as vicious migrant criminals; illegal monsters and killers. Immigrants without criminal records have been labeled and captured too. What’s notorious though is CoreCivic opening a prison whose purpose isn’t to rehabilitate and integrate people back into society, but to continue to cause harm.”
A statement from CoreCivic says:
“The services we provide help the government solve problems in ways it could not do alone – to help create safer communities by assisting with the current immigration challenges, dramatically improve the standard of care for vulnerable people, and meet other critical needs efficiently and innovatively. These are problems the American public has made clear they want fixed.”
According to CoreCivic, the new facility will generate 240 jobs with starting pay of $55,000 per year.
CoreCivic said the facility will generate $325,000 in property taxes, and when fully operational will generate $200,000 to use for economic development for the town of Mason.
CoreCivic did not share a timeline regarding when the facility will become operational.
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