Immigrations and Customs Enforcement is moving forward with plans to operate a detention facility in Marana, documents published Wednesday on a federal government contracting website show.
The Department of Homeland Security says ICE intends to "procure comprehensive detention services" through a two-year agreement with Management and Training Corporation, or MTC. The facility in Marana will have a capacity of holding up to 775 detainees, according to a notice posted Wednesday on SAM.gov, the official website the U.S. government website uses to publish federal contracts.
The contract supports "the ICE ERO Phoenix Field Office with the provision of comprehensive detention services for two years," the contract says. "The facility must have a capacity of up to 775 detainees, while also providing guards, meals, medical care, and transportation services."
The Marana facility was the former state prison. It was the state's first private prison, operated by MTC, until Arizona bought the facility from the company in 2013.
MTC, which already runs five ICE detention centers in California, New Mexico and Texas. Early last year, the company bought the building back from the state for $15 million.
Over the past several months, many Marana residents have expressed their disapproval of having an immigration facility move into the town.
Community concern about the facility being used as an immigration detention facility started soon after MTC bought the facility. It told the Maranca town council last year that the former prison might be used as an ICE detention center.
That news brought harsh pushback from the public, prompting hundreds to join community meetings late last year to find out what they could do to block the facility from being used by ICE as a detention center.
Pima County Supervisor Jen Allen, who led those meetings, said in a statement Thursday that, while her office and community members have been preparing for the possibility of an ICE detention facility in Marana, "it is a tragic development" nonetheless.
"I'm proud of the fight our community has waged against this horrendous detention center. Hundreds have protested in Marana, joining millions across the country who oppose ICE — its goal, its tactics, and its detention centers," she said in the statement.
"We will watch this facility like a hawk and continue to look for every possible way to shut it down."
