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Developments and changes in Georgetown, Hutto, Taylor

T. Don Hutto Residential Center

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Written by Shannon Colletti Monday, 07 January 2008

In 2006, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Corrections Corporation of America, the country’s largest for-profit corrections company, entered into a contract to open an immigrant detention center. The facility became the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, located off Hwy. 79 Business near Hwy. 95 in Taylor.

CCA converted the former privately run, medium-security prison into a governmental center that detains families on non-criminal charges while they await decisions in asylum cases or final arrangements for deportation.

Because Homeland Security — and more specifically the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — cannot contract directly with CCA and needed a governmental agency, Williamson County agreed to be the underwriters to umbrella the contract. For that, CCA pays the county $1 per detainee per day.

Photo of the T. Don Hutto Residential Center During the last year and a half, the center has become a source of controversy as civil rights activists have objected to the treatment of the detainees and have opposed the holding of children altogether.

Jose Orta, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens’ Taylor chapter, has been voicing opposition to the situation at T. Don Hutto since November 2006. He said CCA uses a criminal justice model, which is inappropriate for children, and a different model should be used.

Last August, the American Civil Liberties Union and Homeland Security settled a federal lawsuit on behalf of immigrant children detained at the center that alleged the children were being imprisoned under inhumane conditions. As a result, many changes have been implemented to make the facility less prison-like and more kid friendly. The facility is also subject to periodic evaluations.

Orta said he is pleased the children detained at the facility are being treated more humanely, but said there is still more progress to be made.

“It’s a David versus Goliath type of battle, but I’m very optimistic,” Orta said. “We should be happy with the strides we’re making, but we can do a lot more.”

ICE could not be reached for comment at this time.

At a glance

The detention center is operated by Corrections Corporation of America
No. of beds: 512
No. of current residents: 375
No. of children currently detained: 200
Acting facility supervisor: Evelyn Hernandez
One of only two facilities in the United States authorized to hold non-Mexican immigrant families and children on non-criminal charges. The other facility is in Pennsylvania.
County receives $1 per day per detainee held at the facility, which can total about $15,872 each month.

Source: www.correctionscorp.com and Williamson County

A brief history of T. Don Hutto

Pre-1950s: The land in Hutto is owned by Mexican workers.
1980s: Unable to pay property taxes, the workers donate the land to a church, which later sells it.
July 1997-March 2004: CCA leases 64.5 acres of land on Welch St. in Taylor and eventually makes it the site of the T. Don Hutto Correctional Facility, named after the company’s co-founder.
March 2004: CCA releases a statement saying it will close T. Don Hutto, citing low inmate demand in the region.
Summer 2005: CCA announces its intentions to cease operations and gives September 2005 as date of closure.
September 2005: The facility reopens to house inmates evacuated from Hurricane Katrina and Rita fallout.
December 2006: CCA lands a contract with ICE and announces it will reopen T. Don Hutto as an immigrant detention facility.
April 2006: Williamson County agrees to be the administrator for the contract between CCA and ICE.
December 2006: The first vigil is held outside the facility protesting the detention of families.
March 2007: ACLU, on behalf of 26 detainees, sues ICE challenging the detainees’ illegal detention.
Aug. 27, 2007: ACLU, on behalf of 26 detainees, and ICE reach a settlement agreement that improves conditions for immigrant children and their families.
Oct. 30, 2007: Williamson County Commissioners unanimously vote to continue the partnership for the operations of T. Don Hutto after amending the contract to protect the county from liability.
Jan. 31, 2009: County’s contract with CCA expires.