BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
The Bradford County Democratic Party issued a press release on a proposed an ICE-run 3,000-bed immigrant detention facility was proposed for Bradford County, in a developed area just outside the city of Starke.
The issue was a topic of discussion during members’ most recent meeting. They distilled the discussion into three main points, imploring Bradford County commissioners to “cancel this experiment with human lives.” They said it would disrupt the peace, drain essential resources and continue a pattern of mistreatment for the incarcerated.
Last month on a 3-2 vote, the county commission advanced a proposal for ICE to set up in the Douglas Building south of Starke, transforming into an immigrant detention facility. The initial population of 1,000 would triple over a few months as modular buildings were added. The county would resume control of its property following the close of the facility, benefitting from the utility extensions and other infrastructure left behind.
“The Bradford County Democratic Party stands in opposition to the ICE Detention Camp proposed for our county,” they stated in the press release. “At Monday night’s meeting, in addition to our regular precinct captains, many local residents filled the room. We heard a presentation of the facts about where the project stands and many people spoke out, including Troy Albers, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, District 3. He visited a similar site on the Baker/Columbia County line, so we heard from him directly what a facility will look like and how the county will experience it. Three main points emerged.
“We believe that the site chosen, the old Douglas building on Hwy 301 across from Walmart, will be detrimental to our peaceful town. We could be overwhelmed by the influx of armed, militarized forces, driving in and out at all hours, not to mention the loud protestors.
“There are hidden costs that the county and city will experience, straining our resources, especially EMS, infrastructure, and law enforcement. At 3,000 beds, this would be one of the largest facilities in the country, the same size as Alligator Alcatraz. It would require almost all the remaining city water and sewer capacity, preventing new homes from being permitted.
“A contractor will be in charge of food service, etc. inside the facility, probably the same one working in Baker County and in the Everglades. Their track record is abysmal, serving rotten food, tainted water, and not providing proper sanitation or medical care.
“Our recommendation is that everyone go visit the Baker County detention facility. We implore our county commissioners to cancel this experiment with human lives and the rural nature of our county.”
If the commission’s proposal is accepted, an agreement will be negotiated and brought back to commissioners for a final vote.
