CASPER, Wyo. — The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is seeking proposals for a contractor owned and operated immigrant detention facility within 90 miles of Salt Lake City.

Some Wyoming activists want to make sure that the facility is not located in Evanston.

“Stop the Uinta County immigration prison,” a call to action from “Wyo Say No” organizers reads.

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A private prison company known as Management Training Corporation has expressed interest in having an ICE facility located on Uinta County property.

Members of a Cheyenne-based group known as “Juntos,” which means “together” in Spanish, were in Casper on Wednesday, July 24 to share information about this and other issues.

Representatives of the Immigration Alliance of Casper were also in attendance.

During the round table discussion, several people said that they were concerned about the way ICE treats immigrants in Wyoming and across the country.

But they also said that private, for-profit prisons are a problem even if immigration is not part of the discussion.

Juntos Treasur Maria Velasco and Juntos Translator Stephanie Gerrea handed out Wyo Say No pamphlets and talked to the group about why a detention center or immigration prison should not be placed in Uinta.

“When private prison companies say they care about our communities remember they always put profit above jobs,” the pamphlet reads. “Companies like MTC are very good at making money for their shareholders but they do it by cutting costs of food, medical care, and contracted drug rehabilitation and education programs.”

“This creates dangerous and inhumane living conditions for detainees.”

Wyo Say No is also critical of MTC’s history.

“In 2002 a man committed suicide while awaiting trial in a MTC ran facility,” the pamphlet adds. In May 2002, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice began investigating the conditions at the Santa Fe County Jail.”

“The resulting report, release in March 2003, cited numerous deficiencies in the facility and concluded that Johnson’s death was the result of inadequate mental health intervention at the facility.”

While they are concerned with conditions at private prisons, those who were in attendance on Wednesday also are concerned about how immigrants are being treated by ICE officials generally.

Velasco said that a Wyoming Rapid Response Training session would be offered at the Wyoming Food for Thought Project from 10 am to 1:30 pm Saturday, July 27.

Food for Thought is located at 900 Saint John Street in Casper.

Juntos helped found the Wyoming Rapid Response Network, which is “made up of dedicated volunteers who pursue immigrant justice.”

The training has several aspects to it.

First, attendees will learn about rights that immigrants have when dealing with police or ICE agents. The American Civil Liberties Union-Wyoming has some information about some of these rights on their website.

Velasco and Gerrea also explained that there would be “Legal Observer” training. That training will inform people how to safely observe ICE activities when they conduct such activities as raids and arrests.

The Juntos representatives said it is important that the public keep an eye on what ICE is doing to ensure officials know that the public cares about the issue.

The training will also teach people how to document and report ICE activity.

Both Juntos and the Immigration Alliance of Casper said they work to provide support to immigrants in various ways, doing things like helping people fill out legal paperwork and more.

One important thing for immigrants to do, according to an Immigration Alliance member, is ensure that they have formally indicated who should take custody of their children in the case that parents are taken into custody.

While ICE officials cannot go onto school grounds, they can detain a parent while a child is at school. If the parent has not set up someone to take custody of the child while the parent is detained, the Department of Family Services will take custody.

Juntos also helps raise money for families facing emergencies. One example is when the primary bread-winner is detained by ICE officials and their family are unable to support themselves.

Juntos accepts donations at their website to support their efforts.

The Immigration Alliance of Casper’s Facebook page has more information about the work that they do.

One woman attending the meeting said that for her, the key to solving political rifts about immigration is love.

“Love separates us from any other species,” she said. “No body wants to be told they are wrong or they are stupid.”

“It is good to be kind to the other side even if they are not kind.”