Mason, Tennessee Approves Converting Closed Prison Into ICE Detention Center

(MASON, TENNESSEE) Town leaders in Mason voted late Tuesday to approve agreements that will turn the closed West Tennessee Detention Facility into a privately run Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center operated by CoreCivic. The decision, made on August 12, 2025, follows months of pressure over jobs and public safety, and came despite loud protests from residents worried about how an ICE facility will affect families and schools in this small town.

The vote reopens a site that has sat idle since 2021, when President Biden directed the Department of Justice to stop renewing contracts with private detention facilities. President Trump reversed that policy on January 20, 2025, clearing the way for new contracts with companies such as CoreCivic. Mason officials confirmed they approved contracts both with ICE and with CoreCivic, positioning the facility to receive detainees from across the mid-South once it is operational.

Under the plan, the West Tennessee Detention Facility would hold up to 600 beds. CoreCivic says the project will bring 240 jobs to Mason, with an average annual salary of $55,000, and generate about $325,000 in property tax revenue plus $200,000 for Mason to spend on schools and infrastructure. The company is advertising detention officer roles at $26.50 per hour, and several hundred applicants have already expressed interest, according to local officials.

Mayor Eddie Noeman, an Egyptian-American immigrant, backed the move as an economic lifeline, saying, “to give jobs to the people is what I’m looking for.” Vice Mayor Reynaldo Givhan supported the CoreCivic contract but abstained from voting on the ICE contract due to a personal conflict. Board member Virginia Rivers voted no, citing concerns about ICE’s treatment of immigrants and the social cost to Mason’s families.

Public comments stretched for hours. Residents, teachers, faith leaders, and students described fear and frustration, noting the facility sits near neighborhoods and schools. Some asked whether the town is now tied to federal deportation policies that could separate parents from children. Others urged leaders to accept CoreCivic’s jobs with conditions on oversight and community reporting. The meeting ended with jeers from opponents who promised to keep organizing.

Jobs, revenue and local impacts

Mason, Tennessee, with a population around 1,300, has struggled since the prison closed. The site was the town’s largest employer, and local businesses say they lost customers and tax dollars when the doors shut in 2021.

Town records show leaders have searched for ways to stabilize the budget, and CoreCivic’s offer of steady payroll and infrastructure funding appealed to many. Supporters argue the reopening will:

• Keep young adults from leaving town to find work
• Drive new spending at shops and restaurants
• Provide $325,000 in property taxes to help pay for local services without raising resident rates

CoreCivic’s lobbyist, Jerry Lankford, told officials the company would provide safe conditions for detainees and staff and maintain strong security for the community. Hiring has already started: CoreCivic is recruiting correctional officers, medical staff, and support roles, and says training will include federal detention standards and emergency procedures.

Town leaders emphasized the direct local benefits:

• 240 jobs with an average salary of $55,000
• $26.50 per hour advertised for detention officers
• $200,000 earmarked for Mason to spend on schools and infrastructure
• $325,000 expected in property tax revenue

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, towns that host detention centers often see quick employment spikes during the first year of operations, though long-term gains depend on staffing stability and contract renewals.

Civil rights record and detention trends

Opponents pointed to CoreCivic’s troubled record and raised questions about safety and oversight:

• The company is under a federal civil rights investigation for chronic understaffing and violence.
• Tennessee has fined CoreCivic nearly $45 million since 2022 for staffing failures.
• Since 2022, at least 22 inmate deaths and $4.4 million in settlements have been reported across its facilities.

Residents asked for public reporting on staffing ratios, medical care, and incident reviews before detainees arrive.

They also highlighted who will be held. VisaVerge.com reports that as of July 27, 2025, 71.1% of ICE detainees (40,461 out of 56,945) do not have criminal convictions. Most are in civil immigration custody, not serving criminal sentences. For families in Mason, that fact sharpened the moral debate over hosting a detention center that could jail asylum seekers or long-time residents picked up for visa issues.

Federal analysts note similar growth at facilities in other states as the federal government expands detention under current policy. While local officials focused on payroll and tax benefits, national immigrant-rights groups warned that placing more beds in rural areas can:

• Make it harder for families and lawyers to visit detainees
• Potentially fuel longer stays in detention

CoreCivic says it will meet all federal standards for medical care, legal access, and visitation. ICE posts detention facility rules, standards, and visitation guidance on its official site: https://www.ice.gov/detention-facilities. The company also says it will coordinate with local law enforcement and schools on traffic planning and emergency drills.

Community requests, oversight and conditions

At the meeting, several residents asked the town to adopt specific oversight measures before detainees arrive. Requests included:

• Formation of a community advisory board to receive monthly reports on staffing, use of force, and grievances
• Public reporting on:
  • Staffing ratios
  • Medical care standards and incidents
  • Incident reviews and disciplinary actions
• Free phone access for detainees to call lawyers and families
• Language services so non-English speakers can file complaints
• Written agreements from CoreCivic to:
  • Provide rapid transport for medical emergencies
  • Make mental health care available on-site

These conditions were urged by those seeking to balance the town’s economic needs with protections for detainees and community safety.

Timeline, next steps, and risks

On paper, the path forward is straightforward:

1. CoreCivic prepares the site, completes hiring, and tests security systems.
2. ICE assigns detainees and sets up transportation.
3. Mason receives its first round of tax payments once operations begin.

In practice, the process faces uncertainties:

• The timeline to open has not been announced.
• Federal oversight and the ongoing civil rights investigation could affect when or how the facility starts housing people.
• Continued protests and possible legal challenges from civil rights groups are likely.

Important: The federal investigation into CoreCivic’s practices remains active in the background. Any new findings could shape future contracts or oversight and influence the facility’s operation.

Local reaction and the trade-off

For many in Mason, the choice reflected a difficult trade-off: jobs and revenue versus risks to families and community reputation.

• Supporters, including Mayor Eddie Noeman, framed the decision as an economic lifeline. As he said, “to give jobs to the people is what I’m looking for.” The mayor emphasized paychecks and paved roads as immediate community needs.
• Opponents warned the social and moral costs may fall on families and vulnerable people, and pledged to continue organizing and seeking oversight.

Ultimately, the vote reopened the facility with both promises of economic relief and unresolved questions about safety, civil rights, and long-term community impact.