Corecivic, the prison management company, informed The Hill on Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees have started arriving at former prisons in Tennessee.
Ryan Gustin, a spokesperson for Corecivic, stated via email, “We have begun receiving ICE detainees at the West Tennessee Detention Facility (WTDF) in response to immediate federal needs for safe, humane, and proper housing and care for these individuals.”
Last month, officials in a small town in Tennessee voted to reopen the West Tennessee facilities specifically for immigration detention. Leaders in Mason, Tennessee, endorsed the revival of these former prisons, which have been used under Corecivic’s management to detain immigrants unlawfully. This was previously reported by the Associated Press.
Since the start of his second term earlier this year, President Trump and his administration have intensified their efforts to clamp down on immigration.
This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiated a new operation targeting immigrants in Chicago.
The DHS announced, “DHS is launching Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham, who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run by an illegally residing individual, Julio Kakuru Bol.” The operation aims to focus on illegal aliens involved in crimes, particularly in Chicago and Illinois, criticizing Governor Pritzker’s sanctuary policies for allowing these individuals to remain free on the streets.
In response, Pritzker commented that this initiative isn’t genuinely about crime prevention. He emphasized the need for cooperation and support, stating, “We haven’t experienced anything like that over the past few weeks. Instead of collaborating on public safety, the Trump administration is focusing on instilling fear in the people of Illinois.”
The Hill has reached out to ICE for their comments on this situation.
