Corrections Corporation Of America Sues Florida Town For Blocking New Detention Center

In this photo taken Tuesday, July 26, 2011, a sign is posted at the site for a proposed detention center to be built in Southwest Ranches, Fla.

The nation's largest private prison corporation sued a South Florida town this week, arguing that city officials are trying to "disrupt and derail" plans to build one of nation's largest immigrant-detention centers northwest of Miami.

Corrections Corporation of America's federal lawsuit claims that city officials in Pembroke Pines, Fla., are interfering with the company's "advantageous business relationship" with federal immigration authorities. Corrections Corp. reached a tentative deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last summer to build a 1,500-bed detention facility in Southwest Ranches, a quiet suburban enclave near the Everglades.

But residents and immigrant-rights groups have waged a battle against the company and elected officials who support construction of the jail. Money is on the line for both Corrections Corp. and the town of Southwest Ranches, which has an agreement to receive up to 4 percent of the compensation from the company's potential deal with the federal government.

Over the past decade, the federal government has embarked on an unprecedented campaign to round up and detain undocumented immigrants, leading to a major development of detention centers. Between 2005 and 2010, the amount of money appropriated for immigrant detention and removal more than doubled, from $1.2 billion to more than $2.5 billion.

Private contractors like Corrections Corp. and GEO Group have benefited: Nearly half of all immigrants detained by the federal government were housed in private facilities, according to an analysis of data by advocacy group Detention Watch Network.

Though the politics have been fierce in Southwest Ranches, the lawsuit hinges on a technical matter: how to get water and sewer services to the site of the proposed detention center. While the site is in the town of Southwest Ranches, Corrections Corp. was relying on an agreement with nearby Pembroke Pines to provide the hookup to water systems.

After public opposition swelled in both communities over the past year, commissioners in Pembroke Pines began looking at ways to pull out of the agreement to provide services for the jail site. The City Commission nixed the deal earlier this week, which led Corrections Corp. to file lawsuit in federal court seeking damages and a reversal of the city's decision.

"It is not legal for a municipality to selectively provide ... services ... based on political considerations," wrote Steve Owen, a spokesman for Corrections Corp., in an e-mail response.

Residents near the site of the proposed detention center have been vocal opponents of the deal, which has brought unprecedented tension to the wealthy corner of South Florida known for expansive ranch homes and residents who ride horses.

Homeowners in both towns have been flooded with robocalls from both Corrections Corp. and activists seeking to sway public opinion on the detention center.

"They're suing my city with the federal tax dollars they've gotten from my pocket," said Ryann Greenberg, who lives less than a half mile from the proposed site and has organized hundreds of residents in opposition. "They're trying to bully their way into this contract."

The city attorney for Pembroke Pines, Sam Goren, wrote in an e-mail that the city is reviewing the lawsuit and will be meeting with outside counsel to "prepare appropriate strategies in the future defense."

Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached a tentative deal with Corrections Corp. last summer on the Southwest Ranches site, a spokesman for the agency said there is "no set timeline" for a final decision.

Comments

[palsimon]

12:37 AM on 06/04/2012

Privatization is Theft of Public Resources by Pal Simon

Here are examples of how the public pays for private profits. At a rest stop on Florida highway a few years ago I began chatting with a pleasant handy-man, caretaker working there. I commented on the beautiful landscaping, and a modern, exotic looking new building for visitors. He told me he had worked there many years, even before it became privatized and was newly remodeled. Before that he was working under the State of Florida and had health care, vacations, pension. Now he had only a minimum hourly wage. But, he said, jobs here are scarce for caretakers, so here I am. Florida is a right to work state.
The new company in Chicago will do the same, probably get funds from the State to construct the building and earn a profit by being able to hire hourly workers who get no benefits. Whenever government privatizes a public function, it costs laborers their wages and increases profits for corporations and CEOs. In Chicago, once immigration center is functioning as privatized, it will go the way of private prisons with ever-increasing populations. In all probability, the privateers will get so much money per detained person per day. (We could check that out). And then there will be political push to round up more immigrants, at tax-payer expense, of course.

________________________________________

[tacevad]

04:08 PM on 06/02/2012

"steal a Billion " get a big bonus, steal a loaf of bread and it's life in a paupers prison. Life if AmerCia

[sallybutt45]

08:22 AM on 05/27/2012

Correction, Schultz, not Schwartz.

[sallybutt45]

08:21 AM on 05/27/2012

Well, Debbie Wasserman-Shwartz was on their side, now, wasn't she? Very disappointed in her. This group and two others are lobbying furiously to keep the drug on war raging and also help write the anti-immigrant laws that make them the largest conglomerate in warehousing non-violent offenders, raking in billions a year. This is what privatization is all about. They do not out-perform state prisons, nor have they decreased taxpayer funding.

Debbie, I know you want jobs for your constituents, but you know darned well that CCA is not a good employer, and the wages are not compatible with state penal jobs. Give back the donations or else lose credibility.

[Gunderan]

05:56 PM on 05/27/2012

Welcome back SallyButt45.You have been missed.

[sallybutt45]

02:04 AM on 05/28/2012

Thanks, I missed you all. Hope I don't get banished again..................but my mouth, what can I say. I calls them as I sees them!

[mswhitmore]

01:40 PM on 03/30/2012

As an American who loves our constitution and our democratic society, I find the very idea of "Prisons for Profit" deplorable. If our society is going to take away anyone's liberty, I believe that society is responsible for their well-being and supervision. The treatment of these detainees should not be subject to the profit motive which would be against their own interests. The treatment received by inmates of these prisons should be the responsibility of an agency accountable to the people and not an entity accountable to shareholders who have made a financial investment and expect a return on that investment. That makes detainees a commodity and incentivises locking up the maximum number of people. That is why ALEC has been pushing for harsher immigration laws and more private prisons. That is why we have more prisoners than any other nation on earth.

[tacevad]

04:10 PM on 06/02/2012

if it is a PRIVATE FOR PROFIT Prison, why is there any PUBLIC MONEY involved?

[magdem]

11:58 PM on 06/02/2012

F & F

[Jill Aronofsky]

09:29 AM on 03/16/2012

This isn't just any DETENTION CENTER!!!!! it's supposed to be the NUCLEUS of ALL MONSTROSITIES!!! It will have 4 courtrooms, medical facilities and other services. Detainees will receive some type of monitoring device and be let out into the surrounding communities of Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Weston, Davie, Miramar, Hollywood Etc. They will come back to the "MOTHER SHIP" on a regular basis.Take note we have the proof. They are all a bunch of liars. It's not what the confines of the 4 walls and barbed wire that is dangerous, it's what will lurk in the surrounding neighborhoods that is dangerous!!!!!

[jazzy434]

07:01 AM on 03/15/2012

The CCA property is on Southwest Ranches land. CCA needs a municipal water and sewer source because Southwest Ranches is on well water and septic systems - SWR wont allow their own residents to hook up to an outside municipality, but SWR leaders and CCA think its ok to allow CCA to do it. Hypocrites

[Ryann Greenberg]

11:29 PM on 03/14/2012

Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Bill Nelson have BOTH put in a letter of support for this facility http://www.noprisonswr.org/2011/11/debbie-wasserman-schultz-1000-per.html

Don't just blame the Republicans...there is plenty of blame to go around!!

[jazzy434]

09:19 PM on 03/14/2012

This is in Debbie Wasserman Schultz' own district! She accepted $1000 from CCA and signed a letter of endorsement. To date, she will not meet nor talk with her constituents that are against it. She is ignoring them. Her office is in Pembroke Pines and shes ignoring them too. Sentaor Bill Nelson also accepted money and signed a letter of endorsement.

[StopMakingSense2]

02:45 PM on 03/12/2012

For profit prisons are an ethical abomination! Naturally conservatives love them!

[fortressfountain]

10:57 AM on 03/12/2012

The reality is the citizens of the USA are only good for the country when they are in debt to support the banks and corporations and the elite of the globe.
As far as us getting anything? Haa! The system is being forced down our throats.

[stargazer13]

10:30 AM on 03/12/2012

how ???? pray tell

can you or I as a citizen pay for a debt to society

if private prisons get all the profit,s

and what does that term really mean?? debt to society ??

for I now know of one man who can not get a job because his of his past record

so !! he paid his debt to society by being housed in prison !!

then he gets out and will now !! pay for the rest of his life

because it will follow him till he passes from this earth

so why even send them to prison in the first place
if we as a society will make them pay for ever !!

[stargazer13]

10:22 AM on 03/12/2012

it not about profiting off of our people who have problem ,s

debts to society does not = profit ,s for private prison, s

tax payers pay more to house these inmates at prisons for profit
then they do supporting a mother with children per year

some thing really wrong with this Bull crap !!

and who pays the bill for all there profits

tax payers that,s who !!

states have been housing our wayward people just fine for how many hundreds of years now

but yet these private companies actually say they have more experience !!

which is a lie if you ask me ??

[fortressfountain]

10:19 AM on 03/12/2012

It seems like there is this rush to build prisons. Does anyone know the Immigration Dept also is in charge of domestic terrorism? Humm, a lot of incentive here.
Read the book "Top Secret America" Wow a real eye opener to waste.

[Dennis Higgins]

07:25 AM on 03/12/2012

Why are there even "Private" prisons???? How did we come, as a nation, to this point where we "Privatized" Prisons? Abolish them now. Abolish all contracts with "Private" armies (contractors) also. I think this GOP gimmick of privatizing everything the Gov't does has gone way too far. The BS that private companies can do it better and cheaper has seen a degrading of America. End it all now.

[PhilTListener]

07:10 PM on 03/13/2012

Privatizing all govt functions is turning America into a corrupt third world plutocracy.
As long as the GOP gets their kickback, they will continue to push for Bush's "ownership society" in which profit (and greed) rules.

America, where are you now,
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now,
We can't fight alone against the monster.
-- Steppenwolf

[magdem]

12:04 AM on 06/03/2012

By "privatizing" they can put more money in their buddies' pockets and claim 'smaller' government. It's so transparent, but no one wants to see.