Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Arizona Leaders, Tribes Rally at Marana Prison as ICE Moves to Convert Site to 513-Bed Detention Center

Opponents call the sole‑source plan with MTC opaque, with little local consultation.

Overview

  • ICE issued a notice of intent to award Management & Training Corporation a sole‑source contract for the Marana site, with plans to detain 513 men supported by about 31 employees.
  • On Tuesday, Representative Adelita Grijalva joined tribal and county leaders and protesters at the facility gates to denounce the proposal and outline legal steps to challenge it.
  • The Pima County Board of Supervisors formally opposed the project in a February resolution, and tribal leaders are pressing DHS to engage in government‑to‑government consultation.
  • MTC and town officials say discussions continue and no final contract has been signed, with MTC pledging jobs and “high standards of safety, professionalism, and dignity” if a deal is finalized.
  • Arizona sold the prison to MTC last year for a reported $15 million after the company operated it for decades, as critics question medical capacity and transparency while some residents cite potential jobs.