Willacy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Update

The new Willacy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility began accepting illegal immigrant detainees on August 1, 2006 . The site is already now home to 500 detainees. Meantime, accelerated construction work continues, as the facility moves toward a 2000 detainee capacity by September 21, 2006 .

Two more housing dorms will be ready to open Monday, August 21. That will increase capacity at the Raymondville, Texas facility to 900 detainees.

The new federal detention center is located across the street from MTC’s Willacy County Regional Correctional Facility.

In mid-June, there was nothing but cotton growing at the 52-acre site near the Mexico border. “This gives a whole new definition to a ‘fast-track’ project,” said Management & Training Corporation (MTC) Regional Corrections Vice President JC Conner. “The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it needed 500 beds within 40 days…and a total of 2000 beds within 90 days. Hale-Mills Construction has completed the first phase of the project on time. Now MTC has the staffing in place to begin accepting inmates today.”

This $64.8-million project has been carried out through an intergovernmental agreement between Willacy County ( Texas) and the U.S. ICE department. The fast-track work order came after President Bush provided Congress with his proposed FY2007 budget. In that budget, the President announced a need for an additional 6,000 incremental detention beds.

The architecture, designed for speed of construction, is the first of its kind for ICE. The project includes 10 pod-like domes, each housing 200 detainees (see attached aerial photo). The domes are constructed of steel beams covered with a tough synthetic-type fabric. The structures have cement floors, full modern plumbing, complete heat and air conditioning systems, insulation and full electrical wiring.

On July 3, 2006 the Willacy County Commission selected Utah-based Management & Training Corporation to operate the facility. In just four weeks, MTC hired 175 correctional officers, administrators and support staff to operate the new facility. Staffing numbers will grow to 375 as the full complement of 2000 detainee beds comes on line.

(8/18/06)

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