Thread: Detention center produced twice as much revenue as projected

Detention center produced twice as much revenue as projected

By FERNANDO DEL VALLE — Valley Morning Star
July 26, 2007 - 12:14AM

RAYMONDVILLE — Willacy County’s $60 million immigrant detention center pumped nearly twice as much money into local coffers than projected, an official said Wednesday.

In its first year, the federal government paid the county more than $956,600, county Treasurer Ruben Cavazos said.

Last September, county officials projected that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement would pay the county $500,000 this year, Cavazos said.

The 2,000-bed detention center held an average of about 1,500 undocumented immigrants, county records show.

“The detention center has been a good success and a good asset for Willacy County,â€

Federal immigration center expansion could ruin Willacy County's credit


Fernando Del Valle (Valley Morning Star)
July 30, 2007 - 8:04PM
RAYMONDVILLE — Some community leaders fear Willacy County’s credit could ruin if commissioners go ahead with plans for a $45 million expansion of a detention center to hold illegal immigrants.

“It’s just looking like a risky investment,â€