Facility Backed To Hold Illegals
Posted 2009-07-17

Pendleton Expects Economic Benefits


By Joan Ashley

FRANKLIN, W.Va. - Pendleton County government and business leaders say they support a proposal to build a detention center in Pendleton County for "nonviolent" illegal immigrants.

GSI Professional Corrections approached Pendleton County with the idea, and county officials decided to move forward with it, County Administrator Karen Pitsenbarger said.

In a July 10 letter to U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., county commissioners said they support a "cooperative partnership" with GSI to build and operate the detention center.

County Commission President Judy Hott said the board plans to meet Tuesday to schedule a public hearing on the issue. The hearing, she said, would include Del. Harold Michael, D-Moorefield, and officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and GSI.

Backers: Center Means Jobs

The center would be designed to hold as many as 1,000 detainees in dormitory or group housing, according to plans for the project.

The facility would result in the creation of 250 to 300 "direct and ancillary" jobs, with a combined payroll of more than $2 million, according to its proponents' estimates. Those jobs include more than 200 permanent positions in security, transportation, administration, cooking and cleaning, officials said.

The county also would benefit from a federal reimbursement of $20,000 per month, according to the letter signed by Hott and fellow Commissioners Robert Armentrout and Carl Hevener.

‘Not Pushing Prisons'

Michael said he had met with members of Byrd's staff about the project, but stressed that the proposed detention center was "just in the preliminary stage," and not a done deal by any means.

"The proposal [is to] build a facility in the general area, close to the Harrisonburg [federal] courthouse and D.C.," Michael said.

The delegate said the detention center would give the area a much-needed economic boost.

"We need employment in Pendleton County. Because of the general economy, jobs are extremely scarce," Michael said. "I support any kind of job [creation] we can get in the county that is not detrimental to the county. I'm not pushing for prisons that could cause any concern for the citizens living in the area."

The barracks-style design and type of construction used for the facility would not be appropriate for housing other types of prisoners, Michael said.

Jail cells are needed for inmates being held or sentenced in non-immigrant-related criminal matters, he said.


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