EVANSTON — City officials held an informational town hall meeting Wednesday night to hear a proposal regarding the construction of an immigration detention center in Uinta County. Attendees, who packed the city council chambers, were split on the proposal.

Management and Training Corporation (MTC) Vice President of Corrections Marketing Mike Murphy presented information about Utah-based MTC, its work throughout the nation and the proposed construction of an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) processing center.

Murphy said the privately-owned company was founded in 1966 and first began its work with Job Corp. In the 1980s, it added private corrections to its portfolio.

Today, MTC employs more than 9,000 people, has Job Corp and correctional facilities in 30 states and has annual revenues of more than $7 million.

ICE, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has contracted with MTC to provide processing centers in other cities where ICE has district offices.

“ICE has processing centers in specific geographic locations, close to their district offices,” said Murphy. “We build and maintain the facility and ICE processes individuals [who are] in the U.S. illegally.”

Murphy said those detained in their processing centers are not criminals, but people who are dealing with immigration issues.

Detainees typically stay in the processing centers for 30 to 60 days, while going through the civil process.

“While they are breaking the laws of the land,” he said, “they are not hardened criminals. Those people are processed through the federal judicial system.”

Murphy emphasized the importance of building and maintaining a state-of-the-art facility, providing a humane place to help individuals with immigration issues.

“This pin says BIONIC,” said Murphy. “It stands for Believe It Or Not, I Care.”

He said the goal of MTC is to treat each person with dignity, respect, and provide education and skills to them. He said the proposed facility would be a dorm-like building with 500 beds. 

According to other MTC building specs, the facility would be fully state-of-the-art, housing all of the necessary functions within the building, Murphy said.

“We would provide a medical clinic, maintenance facilities, courtrooms and everything needed to keep our impact on the city at a minimum,” said Murphy. “ICE has tight requirements.”

ICE requires processing centers to be located within a 50- to 100-mile radius of its courts and within 30 miles of a major hospital. It also requires a local law enforcement agency to be within a 30-mile radius.

“While we do provide medical services, if something major happens we would use the local hospital,” said Murphy. “If we require medical or law enforcement services, we will pay for them.”

Murphy ended the presentation portion of the meeting by providing information on how he said the facility would impact the community economically.

“This is one of the largest growing industries in the U.S.,” said David Bassett of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. “With the number of jobs they will bring to the community, it will have a positive impact of between 1.5 to 2.5 percent increase in supplemental/support jobs in Evanston.”

Murphy said the facility would hire between 100 and 150 employees, with approximately 80 percent of those jobs being filled by local residents.

He said the starting pay for a corrections officer would be $21 per hour and would qualify for benefits.

“We hire individuals 18 years and older, who have a high school diploma and have good credit,” said Murphy. “The annual payroll for the facility would be over seven million [dollars] and would invest in the community over one million dollars per year.”

Along with corrections officers, the processing center would hire medical staff, teachers, administrative services and technical support staff.

“We want the community members to work with us,” he said. “We want to be a part of the community, but we don’t want to be where we aren’t wanted.”

After wrapping up his presentation, the meeting was opened up to the public for questions.

Mayor Kent Williams invited community members to ask questions, but to be respectful of varying opinions.

Community member Candi DeCoite expressed her concern for a detention center being built in the community. She showed those in attendance some photos of a large number of people packed into a room and suggested the facility was, in fact, a prison, detaining “American citizens.”

“We need to consider the people who are being put in those centers,” she said with great emotion. “I don’t want to see those people rounded up.”

Another community member asked if the photos were of MTC facilities, but DeCoite could not say who owned and operated the facility in the photographs.

Murphy assured the community the MTC facilities were humane and didn’t look or feel like a prison.

Another community member voiced concern of racial profiling and asked if this would encourage local law enforcement to detain individuals.

“ICE apprehends and delivers the people,” said Murphy. “Local law enforcement is not involved in the process.”

He said the only time local law enforcement would be involved with the processing center would be if there were a major incident requiring aid.

“If we thought an incident was causing public danger, we would contact local law enforcement,” said Murphy. “If we use local law enforcement we will also compensate them.”

Councilwoman Wendy Schuler asked about the company’s track record with safety.

“We have had no walkaways or escapes with the ICE facilities,” said Murphy. “The environment of the processing center is different.”

Murphy also said they encourage volunteers to help people with various resources to aid them during their process.

According to Murphy, MTC contracts with ICE for a minimum guarantee of five to 10 years.

“Remember, ICE is part of Homeland Security and they have been around before this administration and will be after this administration,” he said. “Homeland Security has to survive regardless of who is in administration.”

Murphy said former Pres. Barack Obama ordered a study of those being detained for immigration issues and determined they should not be placed in prisons or county jails.

“ICE’s strategy was to create processing centers that were more humane,” he said. “No matter what, they are still going to need these facilities.”

Several community members wondered what would happen to detainees once they are released?

Murphy said those seeking asylum are required by ICE to provide an asylum plan, which would include information on where they plan to reside and what their plans are if released.

“They aren’t just dropped at the door like other correctional facilities,” he said. “ICE will deliver those granted asylum to the location in the plan, and those being deported are sent back to their countries.”

Evanston resident Maryl Thompson said, “In spite of the naysayers, I think it would be an asset for Evanston and believe many support it. I hope the supporters will show up.”

In response to a community member saying they didn’t want this type of job in Evanston, resident Russ Anderson said, “Where else can a high school graduate make $42,000 a year as a starting wage? I think this is something to consider.”

While there were mixed feelings during the meeting, Mayor Williams said he believes it could be a positive opportunity for the community.

“For so long we’ve cried, “Diversity,” he said. “Here it is and we need to consider it.”

Councilman Mike Sellers said it could positively impact economic development within the city.

“This is a great opportunity to bring in a business paying more than minimum wage,” he said. “It would be a good opportunity to keep our youth here,” he said. “It also could show other companies we can grow and change and show others we can sustain good jobs.”

As the meeting came to a close, Williams said there would be future meetings and encouraged community members to attend and reach out to council members and county commissioners to express their support or concerns.

Murphy said MTC would be more than happy to return to provide more information if needed.