EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A U.S. senator is calling for the shutdown of an immigrant detention center in New Mexico where the federal government has failed to get a contract extension with a local county.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, has long criticized conditions and medical care for migrants at the Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia, New Mexico, which is run by private contractor CoreCivic.
On Thursday, Heinrich’s office said the senator asked the head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) why the agency continues to hold detainees there.
The contract between ICE and Torrance County expired on Oct. 31.
“It is my understanding that no new agreement has been entered into. It is also my understanding that ICE internal policies dictate contracts and agreements automatically expire if the contract or agreement is not renewed,” Heinrich wrote to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. “In the event of a contract expiring, per ICE policy, all noncitizens and ICE equipment must be removed from the facility on or before the expiration of the period of performance.”
In May, migrant advocates alleged sewer water was flooding some detainee cells and that no drinking water was available. CoreCivic acknowledged some water shortage but denied the flooding allegations, according to local news reports. Late last year, an advisory committee called on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to initiate an inquiry on reports of due process violations and unsafe conditions at Torrance and two other New Mexico migrant detention centers.
Heinrich said detainees should be moved out of the facility until a new contract is signed, through he would prefer it to shut down altogether.
“The lapse in contractual authority for the continued detention and care of immigrants at TCDF is extremely concerning. I reiterate my calls for ICE to close the facility,” Heinrich said.
Border Report reached out to ICE for comment and is awaiting a response.