a day ago
Judge hears motions from CoreCivic in Leavenworth lawsuit
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — A Kansas judge last month the reopening of a Leavenworth prison for ICE detainees, but the company that wants it open is pushing back.
The courtroom was packed Monday morning as a Leavenworth County judge heard from lawyers with the city of Leavenworth and CoreCivic about the current hold that is stopping the facility from moving forward.
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CoreCivic, a major private prison operator in the U.S., wants to house immigrants facing possible deportation in the old Leavenworth detention center.
It would be a 1,033-bed facility and would make the company $4.2 million in revenue each month, the company said in a court filing.
CoreCivic must first obtain a special use permit before reopening the facility, but opponents hope that doesn't happen.
'I think it's ridiculous that they're even like thinking about it. It should've just been a quick, easy decision. I think the injustice of all of this is just far beyond what it should be already,' said Gabriel Mancillas, one opponent who spoke outside the courthouse Monday.
CoreCivic initially applied for a special use permit from the city in February but then withdrew that application the next month. In court, the company argued it doesn't need the permit and that the process would take too long.
'This is a routine board of zoning appeals issue and the city's provided no response in this court to why that wouldn't be the case here, especially when the development regulations indicate that it is,' said Taylor Concannon Hausmann, an attorney representing CoreCivic in the lawsuit.
According to reporting from the Associated Press, Leavenworth isn't the first city where this has happened. In Newark, New Jersey, there has also been controversy surrounding the reopening of a private prison as an ICE detention facility.
The judge made no decisions Monday on the motions filed by CoreCivic, so the wait continues to see if the temporary injunction will be lifted.
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