I’ve been working at the Herald for a little more than five months now, and in that time, I’ve written many stories about many things. As the only full-time reporter, other than Josh Hall, our sports reporter/editor, it’s my job to write about almost anything that is newsworthy in Uinta County. 

It’s a position I take seriously. People often say that newspapers are a dying industry, but I happen to believe that newspapers (and the media in general) are hugely important as a source of information for the public. I’m honored to be entrusted with that task. 

I try very hard to write stories that are free from any of my own personal biases or opinions. I stick to the facts of what happened or what was said, and try to approach every single story I work on with an open mind. I think, for the most part, I succeed.

However, that doesn’t mean I don’t have opinions — and very strong ones at that. This column affords me an opportunity to share those viewpoints when I feel absolutely compelled to do so. This is one of those situations.

The proposal to construct an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center here in Uinta County is one of the worst and most short-sighted ideas I have ever had the displeasure of hearing. The fact that our elected officials seem to be wholeheartedly in support of this proposal is even more distressing. 

I attended the informational meeting with representatives of MTC last spring. I went into it with an open mind and genuinely wanted to hear what was discussed. During that meeting citizens were assured there would be many more public meetings so that concerns could be addressed. It’s quite disappointing that not even one of those public meetings has materialized. 

Since none of us have had the opportunity to ask questions of or share concerns with our public officials or representatives of MTC, I feel the need to do so here. 

Although I personally cannot support detaining people for private profit, for purposes of this column I am going to stick to concerns about what such a facility would mean for our community. 

I was born and raised here. I’ve seen booms and busts come and go. I remember when there was no Aspen Grove or Uinta Meadows, when there was no Walmart, when there was no McDonald’s and no stoplights in town. My roots are deep, and I care about Evanston. I chose to raise my family here. 

I have spent a lifetime hearing Evanston residents complain about how the rest of the state views us — as the home of the Wyoming State Hospital or any number of derogatory terms often used to describe that facility that provides a valuable service and that, frankly, has been part of the life-blood of our community for more than a century. 

Then there are the complaints about how Utah views us — as the home of cheap beer, fireworks and the “porn store.” Do we really want to add “home of the for-profit immigration prison” to that list? 

Our community leaders are currently pursuing grant funding to conduct studies into economic development and how to lure industries and businesses to our community. Isn’t anyone else concerned that this immigration facility would be detrimental to those efforts? How many businesses will want to move into a community known for being home to a detention center? 

MTC officials have stated publicly that they don’t want to create an obligation for the county. However, they’ve also said that if there is only one proposal submitted to ICE, they can do a government-to-government contract between Uinta County and ICE (which we all know they hope is the case so they can avoid having to conduct an environmental impact study). Well, wouldn’t a contract with the county instead of with MTC create an obligation for the county and all of us who live here? 

MTC officials have made grand claims about around 100 well-paying jobs that students right out of high school would be eligible for. However, at that meeting last spring the MTC representative also said that because it would be an ICE facility, employees would have to pass background and credit checks. That’s right, credit checks.

I haven’t heard of anyone locally acknowledging what was said. How many kids right out of high school can pass a credit check? How many people who have lost their jobs and perhaps had to deal with foreclosure or bankruptcy can pass a credit check? 

MTC also claimed those jobs would start at an average of $21 an hour. I would like to know if that average includes top administrator pay, thereby inflating what the actual starting wage for most really is. 

I would also ask what happens if — and that’s a big if — MTC really was paying $21 an hour starting wages. How would that affect other employers in town who hire people for similar jobs, like the Wyoming State Hospital and law enforcement? We all know the state, county and city are facing huge budget constraints and couldn’t possibly raise wages to compete. How many people would quit positions with those agencies that are vital parts of our community? 

Then there’s the fact that the current suggestion is to build this monstrosity at the end of the “road to nowhere” by Bear River State Park. Our park is something the entire community takes pride in and that we hope entices visitors to the area. Last fall the “Only in Wyoming” website made a list of top 10 places in Wyoming to visit in the fall. The Bear River State Park was third on that list, behind only Yellowstone and Grand Teton, because of the certainty of viewing wildlife and the abundance of trails and other outdoor opportunities. 

But let’s go ahead and construct a barbed-wire-surrounded immigration center right next to our beautiful outdoor opportunities, a move that would most certainly curtail the possibility of any future growth of recreation in the area and that would most definitely detract from the beauty of the park. 

MTC has a documented track record that should give anyone pause. They are currently in the midst of a lawsuit, here in Wyoming, for discriminatory practices. A lengthy story that ran in the Casper Star-Tribune in early January documented MTC’s long history of leaving communities broken. 

There is also a history of MTC losing a contract with ICE and then converting that detention center into an actual for-profit prison, with dramatic consequences for that community. 

What happens to us when there is a new administration that is not so eager to detain immigrants and the contract is over? 

Why have we invested millions of dollars into creating a beautiful downtown full of unique restored historical buildings only to grasp at this straw? 

More than anything, I would ask why we’re all so eager to believe MTC without properly doing our homework on all sides of this issue. They are a for-profit company, which means their primary motivation is always going to be to make money for themselves and not to help our community. 

Doesn’t it seem to anyone else that they’re trying to take advantage of our wonderful little community because they know we’ve been desperate for jobs and growth? Don’t their promises seem too good to be true? Maybe we should be asking ourselves why this Utah-based company’s detention center was rejected by people in MTC’s home state of Utah. 

We should all be offended that this company is trying to sell us on this wretched idea, thinking we’re too naïve and desperate to know better. Come on, please tell me we’re not that desperate.