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.
 
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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.
