Arizona’s Bold Move: Selling Prison Instead of Using It for Illegal Alien Detention

By Staff Reporter |

Governor Katie Hobbs has directed the Arizona Department of Administration (ADA) to sell the state’s first private prison instead of repurposing it for the detention of individuals facing immigration violations. The Marana Community Correctional Treatment Facility, located near Tucson, was subject to bipartisan rejection in the State House last Thursday. A proposed bill to lease the facility to the federal government for just $1 a year was unsuccessful, despite passing in the Senate.

Senator John Kavanaugh, the bill’s author, argued, “The federal government should have access to the empty Marana Prison to house these dangerous criminal illegal aliens so that Arizonans are protected from further threats.” Conversely, local Republican representative Rachel Keshel opposed the plan due to concerns about introducing criminal illegal aliens into the Marana community.

Keshel, along with Democratic Representative Kevin Volk, criticized Kavanaugh for not consulting local leadership regarding the proposed plans. “Now, I do agree that something needs to happen with it instead of it just sitting there. But why was I not consulted with?” Keshel expressed, emphasizing the need for community input.

The Management and Training Corporation (MTC) of Utah purchased the 500-bed facility for approximately $15 million. Previously, MTC managed the prison, which was established over 30 years ago as Arizona’s first private correctional institution. The minimum-security facility housed up to 500 inmates requiring substance abuse intervention, but declining prison populations ultimately led to its closure.

This sale follows Governor Hobbs’ announcement of the prison’s closure in late 2023, citing efficiency and cost savings as primary motivations. By closing the facility, Hobbs projected a savings of $15 million over the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, allowing the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) to redistribute the inmates to other state facilities.

ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell stated, “So not only are we demonstrating significant savings, we’re demonstrating, with actions, our ability to be more efficient with the resources already provided to us.” However, local leaders expressed concerns over the repercussions of the closure. Marana Mayor Ed Honea pointed out that approximately 90 prison staff members received layoff notices just weeks before Christmas. The facility had the potential to employ over 200 individuals at full capacity, and its labor was valuable in local infrastructure maintenance.