ICE rejects Albuquerque; detainees will be held in El Paso
Associated Press
Article Launched: 04/01/2008 12:06:04 PM MDT


ALBUQUERQUE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has decided against using a downtown Albuquerque jail to hold its detainees, an agency spokeswoman says.
Most of the detainees who would have been placed in the Regional Correctional Center will be held in El Paso, Leticia Zamarripa, ICE spokeswoman, said.

The agency also can house detainees at other regional facilities, including a yet-to-open immigrant processing center in Otero County.

ICE decided last July to remove about 600 detainees from the Albuquerque lockup and put them in other holding facilities around the United States.

But Zamarripa had said last December that the agency was reconsidering its decision to pull its detainees from the Albuquerque jail, which is owned by Bernalillo County and run by Cornell Companies.

That facility has faced allegations by immigrant lawyers - and criticism by a federal judge - of subpar conditions. Complaints included sweltering heat inside, frozen food and poor medical attention.

Cornell officials said they have word hard to improve the jail and meet ICE requirements.

The U.S. Marshals Service still houses detainees at the 993-bed jail.

"At present, we expect to continue to operate and market the facility," said James Hyman, Cornell chief executive officer, chairman and president.

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