‘This is bad for Marana’: Arizonans speak out against potential new ICE prison

Tucson, Ariz. – Arizona residents are expressing growing unease over the possible conversion of a prison in Marana — a town just over 20 miles northwest of Tucson — into an immigration detention center. In late October, residents, local officials and advocacy groups gathered at Coyote Trails Elementary School for a public forum to learn more about the potential project and share their perspectives.

Hundreds of community members attended the gathering, which was led by Pima County Supervisor Jen Allen with guest speakers from Florence Immigrant And Refugee Rights Project, Just Communities Arizona and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona. 

Last month, CALÓ News published a story that revealed Management and Training Corporation’s (MTC) controversial track record — per numerous government oversight reports — including staffing shortfalls, medical neglect, and poor facility conditions at its five Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers across the U.S., which the company manages.

MTC, which operates detention and correctional facilities nationwide, quietly acquired the Marana site in July 2025 from the Arizona Department of Administration. MTC was the previous owner before the state obtained it in 2013.

While neither the company nor federal immigration officials have confirmed plans for the site, activists and residents are closely watching, worried that it could soon be converted into another immigration detention center.

Concerns mount as likely new ICE prison in AZ to be run by company with flawed record

MTC, the private prison company that recently acquired a closed correctional facility in Marana, Arizona, operates five immigration detention facilities in the U.S., some of which have a history of medical negligence and substandard facility conditions.

At the Tucson meeting, questions that have been raised over the years by advocacy groups — involving human rights and transparency issues — were brought up by community members who grew concerned about the potential facility's impact on their neighborhoods. Allen acknowledged the depth of community concern and encouraged residents to stay engaged.

"We need to begin unearthing questions," Allen said. "Having an ICE facility anywhere in the county has ripple effects across our community. It affects our families. It affects our neighbors, our schools. It affects businesses. It affects every facet of our community."

‘We’re very much in the dark’

One community member asked, “Is there a plan that can be implemented for oversight if this thing comes through? In the past, what we've seen is senators and state representatives being abused and detained and even charged for trying to do their jobs on oversight.”

Liz Casey of the Florence Project responded, explaining that oversight options are extremely limited because, should the project become a reality, it would be operated at a federal level. “My understanding is that even the attorney general's office does not have jurisdiction to investigate these facilities,” she said.

Casey added that while some elected officials have been allowed to visit facilities in other parts of the state, they must provide notice beforehand. Even then, some Congress members, like Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari has been turned away when attempting to conduct congressional oversight even after having gotten approval from the Department of Homeland Security.

“That’s still effective,” Casey said. “If this moves forward, contact your representatives and ask them to do a monitoring visit into this facility.” 

She also addressed questions about the potential facility’s timeline. “The town hasn’t received any official information, MTC isn’t releasing details and we haven’t seen a contract. There might still be ways to delay things, but right now, we’re very much in the dark. One way to track progress is to monitor MTC job postings,” she said.

‘This is bad for Marana’

Several attendees expressed concerns about how a potential detention center could impact local schools, traffic and community safety, while others worried about family members and neighbors who might interact with ICE officials.

Joanna Ryan, an attendee opposed to the prison, and an Iraq veteran and former federal law enforcement officer, said, “I want to let you all know that this is bad for Marana. This isn't what Tucson represents as a people. As a former corrections officer, I saw abuse of staff and detainees, inhumane treatment and increased violence. Poor mental and physical healthcare for detainees also affects the workers. I broke after 10 years of watching this.”

A young resident, Mireya, spoke up next. “I have lived in Marana all my life. I live just 13 minutes from where this facility is supposed to be, so it’s right in my backyard. My question is, we are a farming community, a community that is largely of Mexican and Hispanic descent. How is this going to affect us, and how can we protect our community?”

Immigration attorney Mo Goldman responded, emphasizing the importance of knowing one's rights. “There’s a lot of information on the ACLU’s website about what your rights are. Speak up and use your voice. Use your First Amendment rights to speak your piece,” he said.

Caroline Isaacs, executive director of Just Communities Arizona, warned of the dangers of for-profit incarceration: “For-profit incarceration exists to make money, and the commodity is human beings. They cut corners on staff training. So you see high vacancy rates, high turnover and under-trained staff, which is a recipe for disaster in every case. These create unsafe facilities for staff and incarcerated people alike.”

Many attendees expressed a desire for additional public meetings to continue the discussion and ensure the community remains informed as plans for the facility develop. A future meeting has yet to be set.

Isabela Gamez is a Tucson-based journalist and graduate of the University of Arizona’s School of Journalism. She served as the UA School of Journalism’s Don Bolles Fellow and previously interned at Voice of America, The Arizona Mirror and Arizona Public Media. Her work has appeared in Tucson Spotlight, Tucson Foodie and other publications. She reports on social justice issues and feature stories across the Southwest.