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FridayNovember202009



x60
Wilco keeps immigrant detention center in Taylor
10/31/2007 9:04 AM
By: Chelsea Hover

 
Williamson County commissioners had considered cutting ties with a controversial detention facility for immigrant families in Taylor.

The county was worried about their liability concerning the privately-operated T. Don Hutto Residential Center.

But county commissioners did an about-face on Tuesday and voted to stay in the deal after Corrections Corporations of America, the company that runs T. Don Hutto, offered the county an amendment freeing them of any legal responsibility.

T. Don Hutto has been faced with lawsuits and protests over housing children of undocumented immigrants. It's only one of two facilities in the country where Immigration and Customs Enforcement detains families.

The commissioners' court meeting was packed with employees of Corrections Corporations of America wanting to defend their jobs and concerned citizens voicing their disapproval of what they call an unethical business deal.

"This is a profitable enterprise for a private corporation which is making huge amounts of money off of our tax dollars, all for a purpose that I consider to be immoral," resident Leslie Cunningham said.

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T. Don Hutto

The immigrant detention center stays and Williamson County isn't liable for its actions.



Williamson County receives more than $15,000 a month for their involvement.

"That's what's wrong. If these commissioners had a sense of moral leadership and responsibility, we wouldn't be going through this," resident Maryellen Kersch said.

County commissioners listened to residents' pleas, but wasted no time putting it to a vote. All five approved extending the contract, but with amendments to protect the county against legal liability. CCA will pay $5,000 a month for a liaison who will serve as the county's "eyes and ears" at T. Don Hutto.

"It's a great day. My staff is so dedicated and work so hard that this is the only conclusion that we have," CCA facility director Evelyn Hernandez said.

Immigration advocates say they'll continue fighting until T. Don Hutto is shut down.

The contract remains in effect through Jan. 31, 2009.

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Related Stories
More Information

10/10/07Wilco delays vote on T. Don Hutto contract
10/3/07Wilco wants to end contract at T. Don Hutto
8/29/07Judge approves immigrant detention center deal
8/26/07Government reaches deal with T. Don Hutto
5/24/07Worker fired from immigrant detention center
4/13/07Walk to Taylor draws attention to detainees' plight
3/31/07Treatment of immigrant children inconsistent
3/21/07Judge decides to expedite case of immigrant children
3/7/07Freed mother talks about life at T. Don Hutto
3/6/07ACLU suing on behalf of children at immigrant detention center
2/22/07Advocacy groups want to shut down immigrant detention center
1/31/07Immigration detention center gets new contract
1/26/07Advocacy group threatens immigrant detention center with lawsuit
12/17/06Group protests children being held in Hutto prison
4/29/06Activists fear intention behind immigration detention center
4/24/06Family detention center could spring up in Taylor
1/19/06Defunct prison to reopen as immigrant detainee center



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