There's a Community Engagement night in Leavenworth Tuesday evening The city of Leavenworth says the public is invited to the event taking place from 4 to 7 p.m City staff will speak with community members in this open house format event about upcoming efforts in the city as well as community projects and other department updates Parking for the event will be free in the Aasgard There's a Community Engagement night in Leavenworth Tuesday evening City staff will speak with community members in this open house format event about upcoming efforts in the city as well as community projects and other department updates...\nRead More Who runs our towns—the people who live here or billion-dollar corporations who think they’re above the law This isn’t just about a shuttered prison It’s part of a disturbing national trend: corporations deciding the rules don’t apply to them That their money and lawyers give them the right to steamroll local governments and treat communities like they’re disposable CoreCivic wants to reopen its Leavenworth facility as an ICE detention center—the same facility shut down in 2021 after the federal government canceled its contract with them In 2017, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson described the facility as “an absolute hellhole.” A federal audit found one in four staff positions vacant the bulk of their Special Operations Response Team The failures weren’t just bureaucratic—they were violent One guard was stabbed and beaten so severely she needed sixteen surgeries As she still struggles with a difficult recovery her workers’ comp payments are coming to an end Another employee had his head split open by an inmate while covering multiple units alone CoreCivic was caught faking inspection results by removing beds ahead of audits to hide overcrowding This isn’t a company that makes mistakes; it’s a company that commits fraud profiting from a business model that relies on understaffing and treating workers and communities as expendable the city commission notified CoreCivic that they would need a Special Use Permit to reopen their long-shuttered facility they did not expect the intense community backlash Facing three bruising public hearings and another looming defeat non-operational facility—abandoned for going on four years—somehow still counts as “in use” because a skeleton crew kept the lights on The Leavenworth City Commission didn’t back down They passed a resolution reaffirming that CoreCivic must obtain a Special Use Permit to operate — and pledged to defend the city’s right to regulate land use through every legal means available CoreCivic has made its position crystal clear: it plans to reopen the facility without a permit Leavenworth is taking them to court to stop them But CoreCivic isn’t just defying local government they’ve launched an aggressive PR blitz pumping money into ads trying to reframe the issue as “outsiders” stopping “local jobs,” even though Leavenworth residents themselves have led opposition They’re hoping to muddy the waters and paint themselves as the underdog not the billion-dollar corporation trying to bulldoze a small town They also filed a cease-and-desist letter against William Rogers a former CoreCivic employee who bravely spoke out about the company’s abuses who suffered a brutal assault inside the Leavenworth facility due to chronic understaffing has continued to tell the truth despite retaliation CoreCivic’s attempt to silence him speaks volumes about their real respect for free speech — and for the workers they claim to care about This fight in Leavenworth isn’t happening in isolation It’s part of a broader strategy by ICE and private prison companies to expand detention infrastructure in rural America—often betting that small communities desperate for economic development or dominated by Trump-aligned leadership The strategy is simple: move into places where corporate influence can outmuscle local resistance Pitch detention centers as “jobs programs” while brushing aside the violence and human rights abuses that come with them But Leavenworth proves that rural America isn’t a pushover What happens next will matter far beyond Leavenworth If CoreCivic can override local land use decisions here it will embolden similar moves across Kansas it will send a powerful message that even billion-dollar corporations can be held accountable by determined communities Now is the time to stand with the Leavenworth City Commission and other small-town leaders who are standing up for democratic governance Because this fight isn’t just about zoning laws It’s about who gets to decide the future of our towns: the people who live there — or corporations that see our communities as nothing more than assets to be strip-mined for profit Get the latest from The Pitch delivered directly to your inbox Subscribe Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 14:38:48 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Follow along here on our 2025 Legislative Hub There are decades' worth of traumatized and deeply harmed staff and residents whose lives were forever changed many by permanent and debilitating injuries from their experiences in a CoreCivic facility It has been no different at the CoreCivic facility in Leavenworth and homicides occurred with alarming frequency and other contraband were a common occurrence CoreCivic neglected basic human needs in its Leavenworth Facility curtailing or cutting off contact with legal counsel and family limiting medical care and even basic necessities like showers In consistency with then-President Biden's policy against private prisons Marshall allowed its contract with CoreCivic to end as planned in December 2021 But an empty building is a financial loss—and it's no secret CoreCivic has been yearning to fill the Midwest Regional facility back up and hit those quarterly financial goals Where the Constitution creates some obstacles to profitability by establishing basic human rights for people on American soil it's nonetheless clear that CoreCivic has turned to an easier moneymaker: immigration detention and tried to silence journalists who reported on it CoreCivic is unwelcome in Kansas's First City We know that we cannot trust CoreCivic and its approach to business to keep anyone safe - and we cannot afford the cost of allowing it to reopen the Midwest Regional facility that would harm immigrants It's festival season in North Central Washington with the 106th Washington State Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee through Sunday The celebrations continue next week with the start of Maifest in Leavenworth.   A full month of Bavarian traditions are planned on weekends throughout May The 105th Manson Apple Blossom Festival is May 9th and 10th Cashmere will play host to the Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival in mid June Start saving the dates to enjoy these community celebrations For more festival details, visit the Maifest webpage The 105th Manson Apple Blossom Festival in Manson May 9th Royalty Selection PageantMay 10th Pancake BreakfastMay 10th Apple Blossom Fun Run 5K/2KMay 10th Grand ParadeMay 10th Quilt ShowMay 10th 3 on 3 Basketball TournamentMay 10th Alumni Softball GameMay 10th Alumni CoEd Soccer GameMay 10th-11th Art Show For more festival details, visit the Manson Apple Blossom Festival webpage Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival in Cashmere The 2025 Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival lineup includes headliners Missy Raines The performance lineup will also feature Appalachian Road Show Attendees can also enjoy instrument workshops The Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival is held at the Chelan County Expo Center and fairgrounds in Cashmere WA.  Camping for attendees and participants opens June 16th For more details, visit Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival facebook page It's festival season in North Central Washington with the 106th Washington State Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee through Sunday The celebrations continue next week with the start of Maifest in Leavenworth.   A full month of Bavarian traditions are planned on weekends throughout May The 1...\nRead More For more festival details, visit the Maifest webpage For more festival details, visit the Manson Apple Blossom Festival webpage For more details, visit Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival facebook page 6 May 2025 14:39:00 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 14:39:06 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLEAVENWORTH (KCTV) - A 38-year-old man from Leavenworth has been convicted of the attempted kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl who fought back The Leavenworth County, Kansas, Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday has been found guilty of aggravated kidnapping after an incident that involved a 16-year-old Lowery grabbed the teen near 10th and Pottawatomie St as she was walking to her mother’s home around 7 p.m He tried to grab her from behind and drag her into an alley where he placed a hand over her mouth and threw her to the ground Investigators noted that the teenager fought back as she elbowed Lowery and yelled for help as she claimed she was pregnant Lowery ran before he could take the victim The Leavenworth Police Department said it canvassed the neighborhood and gathered surveillance footage A Ring video gathered from a nearby home caught the violent struggle on camera law enforcement officials indicated that they posted still images from surveillance footage on Facebook in an attempt to identify their suspect a resident reported she had seen the man inside a local store as he rubbed individual ice cream packs on his body investigators said they had secured additional security footage - including a clip that showed the altercation and another that showed Lowery’s escape route “The courage displayed by the survivor of this incident is inspiring It’s unfortunate that an innocent girl can be targeted in such a violent way while she’s simply walking down the street,” County Attorney Todd Thompson said “The victim’s strength and the determination of citizens and law enforcement to bring this defendant to justice is to be respected.” the County Attorney’s Office said a jury found Lowery guilty of aggravated kidnapping He was acquitted of a separate charge of aggravated sexual battery There are spectacular mountain views just about anywhere you go in the Pacific Northwest the small mountain town of Leavenworth may just be one of the best spots to enjoy them from In the late 1800s, this area was booming with a railroad and thriving logging and sawmill industries. A few decades later, the railroad was rerouted, and this area spent decades on the verge of becoming a ghost town However, in the 1960s, town leaders made a plan to draw in visitors by modeling Leavenworth after Bavaria, Germany a popular spot with similarly stunning alpine views Leavenworth was fully renovated and reborn with Europe as its inspiration it is one of Washington's most frequented tourist attractions As someone who lives in the Pacific Northwest I'd say Leavenworth is a fantastic place to visit all year Spring brings sunny days with views of snow-covered peaks and summer offers plenty of recreation opportunities on the nearby Icicle Creek and Wenatchee River the town sparkles with plenty of fresh snow and thousands of Christmas lights dressing up trees and buildings throughout town When town leaders made the choice to turn Leavenworth into a tourist destination in the 1960s specific architectural design requirements were put in place Every building in the downtown core has either been remodeled or built to match the town's Bavarian theme Many are colorful A-lined buildings with large overhanging roofs Strolling through town to admire the details of the charming buildings is a lot of fun the city of Leavenworth closed its main downtown street to motor vehicles It was initially a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for more room for social distancing on crowded streets but the closure has stayed in place years later This has provided more outdoor seating for restaurants and tasting rooms I think it's also made strolling through town more pleasant Although this decision means there are fewer parking spaces there's still ample street parking a few blocks away plus several public lots a short walk down the road The town has specialty shops devoted to just about everything including a Christmas store filled with ornaments Cheese lovers will find over 90 different types of cheese flavorful heart-shaped gingerbread cookies with frosting and rainbow sprinkles are the perfect treat for enjoying in the downtown park or taking home and incredibly intricate gingerbread houses multiple restaurants serve German food and giant soft pretzels The best spot I've found to sit and enjoy a pretzel is at München Haus beer garden but there are fire-pit tables and heaters to keep visitors warm on chillier days Menu highlights include a warm pretzel with a side of cheese sauce made from Washington's Beecher's cheddar Just a few blocks from downtown is Waterfront Park a stunning accessible space to take a stroll most of the park's trails are along the waterfront you can watch people floating or paddleboarding the Wenatchee River spot spawning salmon and take in all the golden autumn hues of the trees You could easily spend a whole day or weekend in downtown Leavenworth, but the area is also a major destination for hikers Even just five minutes from downtown is one of the most accessible hikes in the area It's a relatively flat 2-½-mile trail along the Wenatchee River It makes for a nice escape into nature just before heading into town for lunch or dinner — The Kansas Highway Patrol says one person died and two others were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on the Kansas Turnpike Troopers say around 8:30 a.m man was eastbound on Interstate 70 near the Lawrence Service Area when he lost control of his 2025 Honda Civic and over the center median into the westbound lanes of I-70 the Civic struck head-on a 2023 Mercedes-Benz van The driver of the Civic and the driver of the Mercedes were both transported to an area hospital with serious injuries Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward Report a typo Kansas — Nestled into the crook of a wooded two-lane highway on the edge of northeast Kansas a complex of concrete and barbed wire sits mostly vacant — for now For over a decade, the Leavenworth Detention Center held federal inmates awaiting trial. But that chapter closed in 2021 when then-President Joe Biden signed an executive order that caused many federal contracts with private prisons to expire one of the country’s largest private corrections companies wants to reopen the more than 1,000 bed complex in Leavenworth as an immigrant detention center The dormant facility would adopt a new name, the Midwest Regional Reception Center, and a new mission: to boost regional capacity for President Donald Trump’s push to deport millions of people in the country without legal status But a lawsuit stands in the way of CoreCivic’s proposal the city of Leavenworth argues CoreCivic needs to follow a formal process to receive permission before it can reactivate The company insists those rules don’t apply to them because it’s a mundane matter of statutory interpretation But for the groups who oppose CoreCivic’s plan to reopen the detention center it’s a fight to protect their immigrant neighbors and keep traumatic memories of the troubled prison firmly buried in the past Former corrections officer William Rogers remembers where he was when an inmate slashed his head open with a blow from a metal lunch tray he pointed at a slate-gray building scored with tall Behind that same unbreakable glass in 2018 an inmate started to threaten a case counselor Don't think I won't,’” Rogers recalls the inmate saying He reported those threats and started to transfer the inmate to a different unit That’s when the man decided to take his anger out on Rogers instead “When he hit me in the back of the head — I mean But I didn't know it was split open,” he said “Because at that point you're just going to fight.” Rogers finished his shift that day with 14 staples in his head That was one of three instances in Rogers’ four years at the facility when an inmate assault sent him to the emergency room Despite the violence he and his colleagues endured Rogers doesn’t place all the blame on inmates who lashed out He said understaffing created unbearable conditions for detainees Coveted recreation hours dwindled without enough officers to run them The same problem arose for staff that helped set up phone calls manage commissary money and provide basic needs like clothing “They're just in that pot all day brewing,” Rogers said A 2017 audit of the facility by the U.S Department of Justice found that chronic understaffing by CoreCivic created dangerous conditions for inmates and staff nearly a quarter of the facility’s jobs sat vacant Recently-hired staff were assigned to fill roles they weren’t trained for Staff put three inmates in cells designed for two — and then tried to cover that up Chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union from around the region made more explicit accusations about the facility in a 2021 letter urging the White House to ensure its closure and even homicide have occurred with alarming frequency in the last year and other contraband now a common occurrence,” the letter said contact with legal counsel and family denied or curtailed and showers are infrequent because the facility is too unsafe.” CoreCivic spokesperson Ryan Gustin acknowledged that the facility faced security challenges in the past But he said most issues with safety and staffing were concentrated during an 18-month period coinciding with the pandemic Gustin said CoreCivic has learned from those challenges and plans to ensure a secure environment with a more stable job market our government partners’ standards,” he said While activists and community members repeat allegations about the facility and the U.S CoreCivic and its supporters put forward arguments of their own In email records Rogers obtained via an open records request CoreCivic made a number of promises to city officials about how the facility would benefit the community The company said reactivating the facility would create 300 well-paying jobs and bring in millions of dollars in property tax revenue and direct impact payments Gustin told the Kansas News Service that over 1,000 people have applied for jobs at the Midwest Regional Reception Center Those listings are online despite the city’s pending lawsuit to block the detention center from reopening a quality assurance manager who worked at CoreCivic for 24 years spoke favorably of the company at a recent public hearing “I found that they have been supportive in this community and they are very supportive in their staff also,” she said The company also promised to use local construction workers to update the facility Leavenworth city records show that CoreCivic is currently paying a Texas-based company more than $1 million for roof repairs CoreCivic told the Kansas News Service they sought bids from local vendors but landed on an out-of-state contractor because they had the needed experience and clearance from a previous project the company says it has spent about $400,000 working with local vendors Some local lawmakers have promoted CoreCivic’s proposal. Republican Rep. Pat Proctor, who opposed the company's failed bid for an ICE contract in 2023 said he now supports the facility reopening He said the company had addressed his concerns that the facility would hold detainees indefinitely or release them into the community “CoreCivic’s new facility fulfills a critical need for detention space as DHS struggles to manage a huge operation deporting the millions of illegal immigrants that flooded our country through Joe Biden's open borders,” Proctor said in an email to the Kansas News Service State Sen. Jeff Klemp, a Republican, defended CoreCivic and criticized the city’s lawsuit against it in an op-ed for the Leavenworth Times “For this to turn litigious at the expense of taxpayers hardens positions creates division and is concerning,” he wrote While opposing sides trade barbs in the court of public opinion CoreCivic only needs a win in federal court to move ahead a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a former judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals said conflicts arising from local zoning ordinances are commonplace Local rules require certain facilities that have not operated for 12 months to reapply for a special use permit That is a two-month process involving multiple hearings for public input CoreCivic applied for a special use permit in February But before the first public hearing the company withdrew its application — insisting it’s unnecessary In the three years since the facility has housed inmates CoreCivic maintains that it wasn’t closed because they have employed maintenance staff and actively sought contracts to reopen Leben said District Judge Toby Crouse will have to decide how local rules apply to CoreCivic “I don't think it's actually clear in Kansas law which way that comes out,” Leben said Legal proceedings will kick off on April 23rd in Topeka CoreCivic has agreed not to resume operations through June 1st Rogers said he’ll be watching the case closely The 60-year-old city maintenance worker dedicates hours of his free time to activism against CoreCivic Rogers said he’s worried that the potential for mismanagement and abuse will be amplified for immigrant detainees “They're leaving the country two days later Zane Irwin reports on politics, campaigns and elections for the Kansas News Service. You can email him at zaneirwin@kcur.org The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org 6 May 2025 14:39:25 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 14:39:27 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email in the box below and click "Send" Click here to learn more: Documentation (opens in new tab) 6 May 2025 14:39:34 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel The City of Leavenworth approved a resolution Tuesday offering a formal statement on its position that CoreCivic needs a special use permit to operate an ICE detention facility in Leavenworth It’s been an ongoing topic of discussion, and when the company withdrew its special use permit application earlier this month that meant all public hearings scheduled were canceled That didn’t stop dozens of residents from showing up Tuesday to voice their opposition to the ICE detention facility and CoreCivic’s operation of it “If you get anyone else to run the ICE facility a former employee at the Leavenworth Detention Center which CoreCivic owned and operated before it closed in 2021 and no longer housed prisoners Rich says she worked for CoreCivic for 13 years and currently works in corrections drove three hours from Nebraska to be at Tuesday night’s meeting Levering shared her story of an inmate attacking her on February 6 only 10 months into her job with CoreCivic She says it started because the Leavenworth Detention Center was short-staffed and I somehow ended up on the ground immediately,” Levering said She retold her story for the meeting’s audience members and city commissioners during the public comment portion of the meeting Levering says even after four years of recovery There are also invisible scars that will live with her forever like the lack of trust she has about CoreCivic’s transparency “We were supposed to have a timeline when citizens could come in.” Others at Tuesday’s meeting shared in Levering’s safety concerns regarding CoreCivic CoreCivic Warden Misty Mackey addressed safety concerns it is my number one priority,” Mackey said Mackey also spoke to CoreCivic’s reputation as a controversial operator of prisons “I’m really sorry for the experiences they have had Multiple community members also urged the city to take legal action against CoreCivic “What their actions say is that CoreCivic’s decision makers consider the SUP process and this city disposable,” said Esmie Tseng communications director for the ACLU of Kansas Other advocacy groups like Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) spoke up on behalf of treatment of immigrants Tuesday as well, another main talking point of this conversation CoreCivic says it does not need a special use permit to ‘reactivate’ the facility which is why it withdrew its SUP application The city commission met in a closed executive session with the city attorney at the end of Tuesday’s meeting and returned with an announcement about the resolution “I’m always glad to see people coming out to advocate for what they believe in and it was definitely a full house tonight,” said Leavenworth Mayor Holly Pittman “I appreciate everybody’s opinion and their words tonight.” Mayor Pittman says the city’s unanimous decision to approve a resolution was to make its stance clear and ensure the city's ordinance is followed “It’s become a zoning issue,” Pittman said we issued a formal statement saying they need a special use permit to open.” Pittman says it’s not too late for CoreCivic to go through the proper channels to open Neither the city nor CoreCivic has taken legal action against the other but residents are keeping their eyes on both in case things change 6 May 2025 14:39:39 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); residents are keeping a watchful eye on the former Leavenworth Detention Center building now that the ownership group has expressed interest in utilizing the facility as a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center "This is a prison community," said Mary Montgomery a long-time Leavenworth resident who has mixed reviews on a potential immigrant detention facility we've got the disciplinary barracks and we've got the state prison." Beyond the town's broader reputation as a prison community, the Leavenworth Detention Center had its own reputation of violence crime and unfit conditions before closing in 2021 has reached out to the city of Leavenworth about re-opening as an ICE facility "My understanding is that is their goal to make it some kind of ICE detention facility," said Scott Peterson Peterson confirmed the city has not received a formal special use permit from CoreCivic Filing an application for a special use permit would kick-start the process, according to Peterson. City ordinances require prisons have a special use permit "That requires 20 days of public hearing notice before the first public hearing meeting so it would be 20 days prior to the next planning commission meeting The planning commission meets the first Monday of the month so it would be whatever the next calendar month is for their meeting there's a 14-day protest period for affected property owners within 200 feet of the neighboring property it goes to the city commission for final approval regardless of whether or not the planning commission recommends or denies approval In a statement from a CoreCivic spokesperson the company confirmed the Leavenworth facility is definitely an option The statement also says CoreCivic stays "in regular contact" with ICE and all its government partners to "understand their changing needs." The interest in the facility comes after President Donald Trump removed a ban on private prison contracts, reversing a former Biden executive order. Trump's also doubled down on mass deportations or we're not going to have a country left," Trump said while signing a series of executive orders in January Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) have been working to get more information about the former detention center's use in the past year Both groups oppose ICE's expansion further into Kansas and have conducted their own records requests seeking documentation confirming the plans for the center "We would encourage the city to consider all possible options as the communities of Leavenworth have made it clear there is broad opposition to the expansion or use of the CoreCivic facility for ICE detainees," said Micah Kubic, the executive director of ACLU of Kansas "And at no point should we forget how CoreCivic's track record of human rights abuses impacted the officers and residents of the Leavenworth facility before it was closed." AIRR goes on to explain their process and stance in a February 4 statement: but has not received a response as of Tuesday night "I think it's a dangerous option," said Annette "I don’t want my children and my grandchildren to live with the possibility of escapes." Peterson spoke to Annette's safety concerns and says safety is top of mind for the city "Core Civic has told us they're very willing to put in writing that they would not release any inmates or detainees into the Leavenworth community and that would be a part of our agreement with them if they ever did apply," Peterson said "The assistant city manager and I did tour the facility while it was vacant a couple of months ago." Multiple city officials shared CoreCivic’s initial plans proposed having roughly 300 staff members expanding the center and buying a neighboring building for administrative space Peterson also says other priorities — if CoreCivic submitted an application — include ensuring the police department is not overusing resources and time at the facility unnecessarily and making sure any sere issues are taken care of "We are going to do everything we can to make this as transparent and public a conversation as possible," Peterson said "There will be several opportunities for members of the community to come and voice their concerns or not to the city commission and we'll absolutely listen to those concerns." Residents like Annette agree certainly want the opportunity for public input for the sake of their hometown "Residents need to know what's going on," Annette said MYNORTHWEST NEWS 7:58 AM | Updated: 7:59 am A 70-foot illuminated cross atop a hill overlooking Leavenworth is in the process of being constructed BY MYNORTHWEST STAFF Plans for a 70-foot illuminated cross atop a hill overlooking Leavenworth had sparked a debate among residents The proposal was put forth by a local prayer group, the Upper Valley Cross Foundation Proponents of the project argue that the cross would serve as a symbol of hope and faith potentially attracting visitors and benefiting the local economy raise concerns about the cross’s size and visibility suggesting it might alienate non-Christian community members and visitors The Leavenworth City Council has acknowledged the community’s divided opinions and is reviewing the proposal. According to a Chelan County spokesperson, per KING 5 the plan has been withdrawn following the feedback “My hope now is that the community begins to heal,” Chelan County Commissioner Shon Smith said in a statement to the Leavenworth City Council Tuesday “That we remember why we all live here and what we provide together to millions of people from around the world.” More from Jason Rantz: After another hate rally, the Trump admin must investigate antisemitism at University of Washington Supporters of the project viewed the cross as a beacon of hope and faith “Christians need to stand up and represent for their faith,” one prayer group member told The Seattle Times Advocates believe that such a symbol could have served as a positive landmark They also emphasized the importance of religious expression and property rights noting that the cross was planned for private land some in the community raised objections over the proposed Leavenworth cross Critics argued that its imposing size and illumination could disrupt the town’s aesthetic and cultural identity There was also concern that such a prominent religious symbol might alienate non-Christian community members and visitors More from MyNorthwest: ‘This should’ve never happened’: Police shoot dog while investigating a weapon call in Lakewood Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest Community members and activists held a press conference Thursday morning, thanking the city of Leavenworth for filing a lawsuit against CoreCivic for its efforts to open an ICE detention facility in town The press conference included various organizations including the Cross-Border Network for Justice and Solidarity Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation which sits across the street from the building CoreCivic owns that formerly housed the Leavenworth Detention Center City officials were invited to attend and speak but none attended or commented due to pending litigation “We applaud the city commissioners for their action in listening to our community and protecting the city by suing CoreCivic,” said Jean Panisko on behalf of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth “Scripture calls us to welcome the stranger and shelter the oppressed.” The city’s lawsuit against the private prison company came after CoreCivic withdrew its application for a special use permit in March a lot of us were not prepared for,” said Ashley Hernandez the Organizing and Policy Coordinator for SCL’s office of Justice and I have friends who are immigrants themselves it was important for me to be here and speak on behalf of that.” Hernandez joined other speakers opposing the facility “These people are humans in there,” said Rogers who says he was attacked and stabbed when he worked as an officer at the former Leavenworth Detention Center from 2016 to 2020 CoreCivic says it still plans to operate an ICE detention center in town and does not see a need for an SUP The city withdrew its temporary restraining order Monday in exchange for CoreCivic postponing housing detainees until June 1 CoreCivic’s Senior Director of Public Affairs provided the following statement in response to Thursday’s gathering: “Today’s lackluster protest proves that our facility’s opponents are politically extreme outsider groups that want to tell the people of Leavenworth what to do The fact is the Leavenworth community wants our facility and the $2 million in annual local revenue it will generate It’s time for the city commission to reject outside groups from hijacking this issue for their own political gain at the expense of the Leavenworth economy Elected leaders should tell these outside groups to stop sending the message that the public safety profession is not welcome in Leavenworth and accountable facility that will be positive for the community.” In the city’s lawsuit, which KSHB 41’s Rachel Henderson reviewed in-depth with a Washburn University law professor earlier this week it cites the city’s development regulations as reasoning for CoreCivic’s ineligibility as an adequate candidate for operating a facility without a SUP The city’s ordinance states that a nonconforming use abandoned for 24 consecutive months shall comply with the regulations of the zoning district in which such land is located it explains that the city resided CoreCivic’s special use of the property after it stopped using it as a detention center for 12 months The federal government called for the Leavenworth Detention Center to close in 2021 which is when CoreCivic stopped housing inmates CoreCivic says it never closed because it always kept 24-hour maintenance on site “Lawsuits alone won't stop this,” Hernandez said “What we need is continued public pressure and community resistance.” The issues of immigration and CoreCivic’s track record are intertwined for Marcia Levering, who KSHB 41 first spoke with in March to be honest," Levering said about the lawsuit "I didn’t know if they would go that far." “My sole intent is to save the immigrants,” Levering said The same year CoreCivic stopped running the Leavenworth Detention Center Levering — a former corrections officer at the center — was attacked on the job “Unit 4 accidentally buzzed open the wrong door throwing boiling water in my face and stabbing me four times,” Levering said “I now have paralysis to the right side of my face and a rod and tin pins inserted into my right arm and removed and I lost 24 inches of my colon and later my spleen.” and I didn’t think it would be," Levering said "I thought four years was enough to get over it but I’ve also spent four years going to hospitals you don’t realize how severe it is because you’re just trying to get through it." That didn’t stop her from driving over two hours from her new home to be in Leavenworth on Thursday She’s standing firm in her new mission to share her story That fear alone is enough to keep one message loud and clear we're going to keep fighting back,” Hernandez said KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel The city of Leavenworth filed a federal lawsuit Monday against CoreCivic over the company's plan to reopen a private prison as an ICE detention center KSHB 41 obtained a copy of the lawsuit Monday night The suit comes after the city approved a resolution Tuesday, March 25, offering a formal statement on its position CoreCivic needs a special use permit to operate an ICE detention facility in Leavenworth Several residents spoke in opposition to the ICE detention center plan at the meeting and urged the city to sue CoreCivic Robinson called the former CoreCivic federal facility in Leavenworth a “hell hole.” The suit states CoreCivic needs a special use permit to open a facility in Leavenworth that has been “inactive” since 2021 The city is also asking the court for a temporary restraining order preliminary injunction and permanent injunction prohibiting CoreCivic from housing any detainees in the facility without applying for a special use permit The company operated a federal detention facility in the city from 1992 through 2021 Most of those held in the detention center were pre-trial detainees under a contract with the U.S CoreCivic became embroiled in multiple widely publicized scandals resulting from its gross mismanagement of the Facility and the ensuing rampant abuse and violations of the constitutional rights of its detainees and staff such as those described above by Judge Robinson," the lawsuit states "CoreCivic’s mismanagement directly and indirectly impacted the City in countless ways by imposing unexpected maintenance costs on its taxpayers unreasonably increasing the burden on the City’s police and law enforcement agencies to address violent crime and even impeding the City’s investigation of sexual assaults and other violent crimes against detainees and staff." the city manager responded to KSHB 41's request for comment with the following: "Since the litigation is pending We believe the City's position is accurately portrayed in the relevant documents attached with the filing." CoreCivic's Senior Director of Public Affairs shared the following statement via email Monday evening: "While we can't comment on the specifics of the litigation the fact remains that we have served our federal partners business ally and community member in Leavenworth our intention remains to meet the emerging needs of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) here at our Midwest Regional Reception Center (MRRC) and feel that the special use permit is not a necessary step that we must take We look forward to partnering with the local community as we always have." the first hearing for the case was scheduled for April 23 as a status conference at 9:00 a.m in Topeka Courtroom 401 before District Judge Toby Crouse it’s the largest detainee holding center in the region contracting with U.S saw something more foreboding when she heard the recent news about her client: The Trump administration’s rhetoric promising mass deportations was taking shape A database of ICE records lists the Chase County jail as having an average immigration-related census of about 79 people about 115 people were being held there with immigration-related issues The vast majority were Latino men listed as “deportable.” Venezuelan and Colombian were common nationalities But people from a wide range of other nations were also detained and listed as deportable or being in the country without legal status County jails like Chase have long been where ICE holds people the agency plans to remove from the U.S Sharma-Crawford’s client was relocated to the Greene County Jail in Springfield, Missouri, which also is holding detainees for ICE President Donald Trump’s campaign promises of deporting all of the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants coupled with a lack of space for detainees represents financial opportunity to privately operated prison companies CoreCivic is attempting to reopen a shuttered federal prison in Leavenworth as a detention center capable of holding about 1,000 immigrants for an average stay of 51 days CoreCivic is holding an invitation-only luncheon and information session for stakeholders The meeting will be at the former Leavenworth Detention Center a pretrial federal prison which the Biden administration closed in 2021 after problems with staffing violations of detainees’ rights and safety issues “We would welcome the chance to speak with you directly and share some information about our company and the positive impact we could have in the community,” the CoreCivic invitation reads the same day that CoreCivic applied for a special-use permit for the former prison “Our goal in all of this is to ensure we’re being as open and transparent as possible.” The special-use permit must be considered by the Leavenworth Planning Commission and then the City Commission. The Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the special-use permit in a public hearing on April 7 Leavenworth’s next City Commission meeting is March 11 and people are welcome to offer comments He noted that the City Commission is scheduled to begin formal consideration of the special-use permit on May 13 The commission does need to give city staff approval to negotiate on any agreements that would be necessary between CoreCivic in the case that the special-use permit is approved Limited detention space might have kept the Trump administration from posting higher numbers of immigrants being held for deportation, according to a report by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. That report found little evidence that immigration arrests and removals have increased over the Biden administration’s recent record despite Trump’s heavy media campaign touting his intentions to deport record numbers During the first week of February, detainees were released when the government reached 109% of capacity Sharma-Crawford noted that the U.S. Senate has approved $350 billion for immigration enforcement “If what they are waiting on is more capacity then opening up Leavenworth is like turning the tap on,” she said CoreCivic’s application for a special-use permit immediately sent off alarm bells Immigrant rights advocates question if a rush to fill the space will unfairly sweep immigrants up undercut their rights and deny them adequate legal representation Gustin, in an email, defended the Nashville-based company’s record, saying allegations of past problems of CoreCivic are used to “score political points.” “The fact is we operate with significant oversight and accountability from our government partners and always have,” Gustin wrote CoreCivic describes its agreements with ICE as “A valued but limited role in America’s immigration system.” the publicly traded company’s CEO told investors that it was spending $40 million to upgrade some of its prisons in anticipation of new contracts with ICE as deportations increase The Intercept also reported that CoreCivic was looking at detaining immigrant families And it quoted CEO Damon Hininger saying that during his 32 years with the company this “is truly one of the most exciting periods.” Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas are among those monitoring CoreCivic’s efforts to repurpose the Leavenworth site efforts that began during the Biden administration called out CoreCivic’s history as a prison operator saying that it was notorious for violence and violations of human rights A 2017 audit was critical of the U.S Marshals Service and its oversight of CoreCivic as the firm operated the Leavenworth Detention Center triple bunking inmates in cells meant for two and other issues that raised safety concerns “The executive orders that we’ve seen from the president the last couple of weeks are ones that are callous, chaotic, cruel, and that will absolutely translate into what they’re doing at this facility,” Kubic told KCUR’s Up To Date Trump took office in January and immediately began issuing executive orders on immigration Those orders included halting the arrival of refugees people who had already been approved and vetted for resettlement in the U.S. despite dangerous conditions in their home countries Federal judges have issued injunctions to at least temporarily halt many of the Trump initiatives An estimated 3.3% of the U.S. population are undocumented immigrants Pew Research Center estimates that about one in 100 people in Missouri and nearly three in 100 in Kansas are undocumented the Trump administration announced a plan to expect undocumented immigrants who are 14 and older to register with the federal government which includes being fingerprinted and providing an address would be punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has emphasized that many of the administration’s efforts are in the hope that people will simply choose to leave the U.S. Noem filmed two advertisements One focused on immigrants already in the U.S and the other on those considering entering the country without the proper documents “If you come to our country and you break our laws we will hunt you down,” Noem says in the video which it calls the Midwest Regional Reception Center and concern about immigrant families being targeted were top of mind for many who attended a rally Feb The group represented a wide range of people — immigrants people who were first and second generation Speakers emphasized that diligence would be necessary to counter efforts to demonize and target immigrants Ivan Ramirez took the mic and encouraged continued engagement with community leaders and elected officials who identify as allies of the immigrant community “Our power comes when we come together,” Ramirez said This story was originally published by The Beacon, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective — City of Leavenworth officials confirmed CoreCivic has withdrawn its application to operate an ICE detention facility at the location for the former Leavenworth Detention Center City officials say they received an email from a CoreCivic attorney saying they wished to withdraw their application for a special use permit which was set to go before the planning commission on April 7 City officials say they are unsure of whether there will be a public meeting on the topic or if CoreCivic is allowed to operate a facility without city approval This news comes days after CoreCivic hosted multiple tours of the facility describing their intentions for the space as an ICE detention center Watch coverage of that tour in the video player below It also comes less than a month after CoreCivic submitted an initial application for an SUP the city manager confirmed he received word from CoreCivic that ICE was “reconsidering the scope of the project,” which resulted in the removal of the item on the March 11 city commission agenda The potential opening of an ICE detention facility has been a hot-button topic in Leavenworth, with some residents concerned about CoreCivic’s past safety issues and others hopeful it could offer economic and job growth You can watch our coverage of those residents' concerns in the video player below It also comes during a time of increased crack-downs on immigration under the Trump administration CoreCivic's director of Public Affairs provided this statement Monday afternoon: Kansas — The Leavenworth City Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday for a resolution that says a private prison operator must get permission before reopening its facility in the city but it's the city’s first formal move to place a check on CoreCivic after the company announced plans to operate as a federal immigration detention center CoreCivic needs a special use permit to open their facility in Leavenworth And they have to abide by our ordinances,” Leavenworth Mayor Holly Pittman said in an interview after the meeting Pittman said she couldn’t confirm whether the city would file suit against the company if it reopens without approval the Leavenworth commissioners reserved the right to take any necessary legal action to uphold it formerly Corrections Corporation of America is one of the largest private prison operators in the country It has said it intends to contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold up to 1,000 noncitizen detainees from around the region at the facility as the company’s Leavenworth facility is called ceased operations at the end of 2021 after its contract as a maximum-security prison expired That came in the wake of scathing reports of mismanagement understaffing and dangerous conditions for inmates and staff After the reopening announcement drew backlash, CoreCivic withdrew its request for a special use permit from the city — and implied it never needed one in the first place That process would have involved multiple public hearings the first of which was scheduled for early April commissioners argued that city ordinances require CoreCivic to obtain a special use permit to reopen because it has not served as a detention center in over three years But in an email to the Kansas News Service CoreCivic spokesperson Ryan Gustin said the company has continually employed people at the facility for maintenance purposes even after it stopped operating as a detention center “CoreCivic has maintained a long relationship in the Leavenworth community serving our federal partners while also being a positive business and community partner,” he said community members and former corrections staff at the facility took turns at the lectern urging commissioners to oppose the company’s plans drove three hours to attend Tuesday’s meeting She said understaffing at the facility caused an assault in 2021 where a door that was mistakenly left open allowed an inmate to throw boiling water in her face Levering fought tears as she recounted her experience Once in my right arm and twice in my abdomen,” she said and the right side of her face is paralyzed onsite oversight from our government partners.” who identified himself only as Rick from Lansing told the commission that CoreCivic’s decision not to request a special use permit was a way to evade public scrutiny “They're doing what they wanted to do anyway: bypass the democratic process and open the facility faster so they can print money,” he said “When will CoreCivic see you in court?” he asked Leavenworth's city manager confirmed Monday CoreCivic the company that owns the former Leavenworth Detention Center site submitted a special use permit for an ICE detention facility The city manager said the city received this application Friday KSHB 41 heard from the city and residents earlier this month about the potential for an ICE detention center Now that the special use permit has been submitted a public hearing will take place on Monday Regardless of whether the planning commission recommends the approval or denial of the special use permit the full city commission will consider the application at the May 13th meeting The city commission has a second consideration on May 27th where the final vote will take place Public comment is also welcome at this meeting The city of Leavenworth released a statement Tuesday regarding the center saying it "understands that this is an important issue to the community" and that it wants to provide residents with the information they need to stay informed throughout the process The city says there are other things the city commission considers in conjunction with the special use permit process that will appear on March, April and May city commission agendas. Commission agendas are posted on the city's Facebook page and website No final decisions will be made by the city commission prior to the May 13 meeting The statement went on to address resident concerns "The City of Leavenworth is committed to providing as transparent and open of a process as we can regarding the proposed ICE detention facility operated by CoreCivic," the statement read to the extent possible by State law for land use items like this we work towards a situation that address major community concerns Leavenworth is full committed to ensuring the humane treatment of all inmates or detainees under the care of any prison or detention facility We are also dedicated to ensuring that no criminals or dangerous inmates would be released into the Leavenworth community from the CoreCivic facility City staff is also working diligently to guarantee that core city sercies will not be diminished to the rest of the community as a result of the facility's potential opening We look forward to working with CoreCivic representatives community leaders and impacted stakeholders to make sure that the City Commission provides the outcome that is best for Leavenworth." According to an email sent to various regional stakeholders and elected officials CoreCivic is also hosting an informational meeting about the facility on Saturday "We recognize that some local leaders might have questions about our facility and what impacts a reactivation could have on the community and economy," Ryan Gustin Gustin went on to explain the organization's reasoning behind having an informational meeting "Our goal in inviting them to an informational open house is to provide some of those answers," Gustin's email stated "We invited a small number of leaders from the city county and state levels so that we could share some information about our company and the positive impact we could have in the community should the facility become reactivated Our goal in all of this is to ensure we’re being as open and transparent as possible." The city of Leavenworth said it is aware of the meeting and that its attendance is "to be determined." However the city did confirm receiving an email invite with a week's notice before the event Karla Juarez is the executive director of Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR). She said as of Monday evening, her organization had not received an invite from CoreCivic to Saturday's open house, despite AIRRs work with immigrants in the Kansas City area The community interest in the facility comes after President Donald Trump removed a ban on private prison contracts, reversing a former Biden executive order. Trump has also doubled down on mass deportations specifically if you look a certain way," Juarez said Juarez said there's one avenue many people don't consider when discussing immigration and detention "People could be undocumented right now and are waiting for their process to be documented," Juarez said "We don’t want the families to go through trauma because of a detention center." He was in CoreCivic's detention center from 2019 to 2020 for committing a federal offense involving a firearm "The security wasn’t as adequate as I think it could have been I think it was a really dangerous situation and I don’t know how that would change if CoreCivic still keeps the contract." The ACLU of Kansas shared a statement on CoreCivic's involvement with a potential ICE facility in Leavenworth: CoreCivic's reputation involving safety and violence also sticks out to Good and Juarez as concerns about the company operating an ICE detention center in the area But Jeff Guzman is wondering: Why not here While nobody wants to have another prison in their town I think Leavenworth is a place to consider." Guzman served as a corrections officer for the Army for 20 years "There’s no way to explain how challenging the job of corrections is and it does take a special person to do it," Guzman said It’s something to at least consider for the benefit of the community." He's urging the public and leaders to take a balanced approach "I think people need to look at both pros and cons to decide if it’s here," Guzman said He said he could see an economic benefit to having the center in Leavenworth good-paying jobs with benefits that are lowering our property taxes "I’d love to see this town bring in business Gustin shared the company's stance on its economic and social impact "CoreCivic has been providing high-quality services to our government partners for over 40 years and we have operated our Leavenworth facility for nearly 30 years," the email read "Our facility here delivered critical services to our government partner while providing meaningful careers for local staff and serving as a good corporate citizen in the community." Guzman said he could also see that economic benefits come from individuals both working at and leaving the detention facility "We’re releasing state and federal prisoners every day and they reside in this community," Guzman said who operates Good Impressions Vinyl Studio in Leavenworth where he makes T-shirt prints for several local businesses he's also opened up a nonprofit and a notary I’m trying to even those scales," Good said I have an opportunity to do something great I’m going to try my best to always do that." he wants to see his input valued in a public forum as these discussions about a potential ICE facility occur "I came to the community and I did positive things Even though the public hearing isn't until April 7 there have already been multiple online forums for residents to express their stances AIRR, ACLU Kansas and New Frontiers released a joint petition to oppose the ICE detention center which has since garnered over 1,000 signatures "[It's] so we can show that people are opposing the detention center," Juarez said KSHB 41 has submitted a records request for the details of the special use permit.— A Washburn University professor broke down the details in the lawsuit the city of Leavenworth filed against CoreCivic after the company withdrew its application for a special use permit in March “I think the city is asking CoreCivic to play by the rules of the city of Leavenworth and that strikes me as a very reasonable request,” said Burke Griggs a property law professor at Washburn University His first impression of the CoreCivic lawsuit began on the first page “I think it’s revealing that the city led its first complaint with a quote from Judge Robinson,” Griggs said a judge described a CoreCivic facility as a "hell hole." Griggs said city leaders are in a tough position "You have to evaluate what the rules are versus the political or public attractiveness of the facility," Griggs said There's been no shortage of public opinion on this issue something Griggs said has historically played a role in previous cases "We've seen this in another case that happened several years ago when Tyson Foods announced that it was going to build a massive chicken slaughterhouse in Tonganoxie," Griggs said 'You can't just build something in our community that we don't want.' And that alliance convinced Tyson not to build a plant there." Despite previous cases establishing precedents Griggs has seen “I’m a little baffled behind the reason why CoreCivic would be acting like a bull in a China shop here,” Griggs said When CoreCivic initially showed interest in opening an ICE detention center in Leavenworth the city said it needed a special use permit in order to operate In February, CoreCivic applied for a special use permit Weeks later, CoreCivic withdrew its application on the basis of not needing a permit because it argued the facility never closed and the company kept 24-hour maintenance on staff “That strikes me as a real frontal assault on Leavenworth’s ability to set its own zoning rules,” Griggs said “[They’re] essentially asking for forgiveness rather than permission That aggressiveness is striking but not unfamiliar to Griggs "We see this in certain areas of the law," Griggs said "If you’re familiar with how Uber has run its business across the world and then use their political and economic power to reform those laws after the fact What CoreCivic is doing here is pretty brazen." The city withdrew its temporary restraining order Monday in exchange for CoreCivic postponing housing detainees until June 1 Griggs said the general idea of blocking the facility from operating is something CoreCivic "That would probably be quite economically costly to CoreCivic," Griggs said The stipulation ends with the following note: "Nothing in this Stipulation should be construed to mean that Plaintiff agrees the Property may be used as a 'jail' or 'prison' (as those terms are defined in the City’s Development Regulations) on or after June 1 without the issuance by Plaintiff’s City Commission of a Special Use Permit." Griggs said he thinks the city and CoreCivic sensibly agreed "to cool it down a little bit [and] extend the wiring deadline six weeks to see if they can’t work through the zoning process by then." Griggs said CoreCivic could choose to re-apply for a permit but there’s also a scenario where he could see CoreCivic suing the city if the city denies the permit application we have the federal legal authority to displace state law,” Griggs said Griggs said federal authority typically trumps the local or state level but it’s too early to say if that’s a tactic CoreCivic will use “This is a microcosm of a larger international fight about immigration,” Griggs said "Local authorities generally have the authority on zoning and that goes all the way back to the 1920s with the city of Euclid case where the Supreme Court of the United States said There are multiple ways the next steps could play out a court order requirement or a settlement negotiation "The courts have very strong powers to stop the offensive conduct that violates the zoning code," Griggs said the city and CoreCivic will meet for the first time in court for a status hearing in Topeka — A 54-year-old man who worked in the Leavenworth School District was arrested Thursday afternoon on one count of indecent liberties with a child The Leavenworth County District Attorney’s Office filed the charge Thursday against Jerome C Court documents posted online Friday reveal the alleged incident took place sometime between Aug The victim is listed as being born in 2017 Riscovallez worked as a STEM teacher at Henry Leavenworth Elementary School He had been suspended by the district and placed on investigatory leave on Friday according to a news release from the school district The release states Riscovallez was prevented from going onto school property pending the outcome of a district human resources investigation School board members met twice Thursday in Special Meetings for Non-Elected Personnel The board voted 7-0 in the second meeting Thursday afternoon to terminate Riscovallez's contract The reason for the termination was for inappropriate interaction with a student violations of three board policies and the Certified Staff Handbook Riscovallez was booked Thursday afternoon into the Leavenworth County Jail where he was being held on a $250,000 bond He is scheduled to make his first appearance before a judge on Friday Police and prosecutors urge anyone with information about this case should call the Leavenworth Police Department at 913-651-2260 Information can also be shared at www.usd453.org/saysomething Public School District spokesperson said Riscovallez worked as an elementary school teacher in the district between 2015 and 2017 The spokesperson said Riscovallez resigned following his second year The City of Leavenworth and CoreCivic share different definitions of how to go about the process necessary for CoreCivic to operate an ICE detention facility in the center formerly housing the Leavenworth Detention Center CoreCivic granted access to the inside of the facility to members of the media on Monday Monday’s tour followed a tour Friday with about 20 leaders from the city although invitations went out to about 75 people The Leavenworth city manager says he instructed city staff not to attend as they'll have "other opportunities to tour the facility" because of the city's direct contact with CoreCivic officials no city commissioners attended Friday's tour Mackey began her career as an entry-level secretary for CoreCivic and has worked for the company for 20 years She’s been chosen to operate the Leavenworth facility if it reopens as an ICE detention center Mackey says guaranteeing safety is imperative CoreCivic faced scrutiny over issues of safety and violence at the Leavenworth Detention Center "I’m really sorry for the experiences they have had and I think being in an industry doing what we do "It’s a challenging industry in what we do and that comes with a lot of different challenges They have different experiences and different issues that they’re working through Having our staff equipped to address those issues helps a lot to be able to identify individuals that may have mental health issues that may have prior trauma in their life." CoreCivic stopped operating as the Leavenworth Detention Center in 2021 after President Joe Biden issued an executive order aimed at ending the use of private detention facilities like CoreCivic’s “We've never actually shuttered the facility,” Mackey said “We've had a contingency of maintenance staff that have been on-site providing virtually 24-hour coverage just keeping the facility open.” In its special use permit CoreCivic submitted to the city of Leavenworth on February 21 it defined the intention to “reactivate” the Leavenworth Detention Center as the Midwest Regional Reception Center (MRRC) under an Intergovernmental Services Agreement (IGSA) with the Department of Homeland Security; Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) The application states the IGSA will allow CoreCivic to keep around 1,000 detained non-citizens for an average of 51 days as they’re “processed through the immigration system including through removal hearings held at the facility.” CoreCivic ensures no ICE detainees will be released into the Leavenworth community and says ICE will take custody of detainees with deportation orders and coordinate their departure from the United States “All detainees who are processed through the facility will be transported to the nearest major transportation hub (i.e the Kansas City International Airport (MCI) or the ICE office In Kansas City,” the special use permit application states The facility is also expected to provide approximately 300 new jobs “We understand they've had employees there to kind of maintain the facility but it has not been used as a prison for the last 24-plus months which requires them to come back through a special use permit through our ordinances,” said Leavenworth City Manager Scott Peterson Peterson says the IGSA is something the city commission will eventually have to enter into but that cannot be done unless the special use permit is approved The first public hearing with the Planning Commission is scheduled for April 7 followed by a full commission review on May 13 and a second review on May 27 “I haven’t gotten any kind of a consensus from the commissioners other than they’d like to hear more information and have those conversations publicly but no commissioner has come to me one way or the other to say how they feel about it,” Peterson said “I think they’re going into it with an open mind and just gonna figure out what’s best for Leavenworth.” There was initially an agenda item on the March 11 city commission agenda regarding CoreCivic but that’s since been removed at CoreCivic’s request over wanting to “reconsider the scope of the project.” The SUP public hearing remained unchanged on Monday the SUP needs to be approved in order for them to operate,” Peterson said Peterson says the city and CoreCivic share differing definitions over what it means to operate by the book when it comes to submitting an SUP and not submitting one “There's a bit of internal disagreement between the two organizations there,” Peterson said it has not been operating as a prison for the last two years So they have vacated their use for a zoning standard.” CoreCivic argues it doesn’t have to re-apply for a SUP from the city because it still owns the facility and technically “never closed.” “We feel that we have always operated this facility by right and have done so for the last 30 years,” said Ryan Gustin CoreCivic expects different protocol to be applied to their situation we have the ability to operate as an ICE detention facility but the city of Leavenworth has asked us to follow the special use permit so we’re doing that to be kind of a good government steward and we want to kind of get off on the right foot,” Gustin said the goal would be to get an intergovernmental agreement Gustin also said CoreCivic has been communicating with ICE about Leavenworth for approximately 18 months When asked if CoreCivic has any other plans or alternatives if the SUP doesn’t get approved Mackey said she didn’t have that knowledge did respond to being asked if CoreCivic could move forward with opening the facility even if the SUP fails and certainly not our position,” Peterson said Peterson says the city encourages the public to attend the April 7 meeting and the public hearings to weigh in on the potential for an ICE detention facility He says the city commission shares the sentiment that moving forward hinges on the views of the public “We certainly want to hear everybody’s voice on the matter and how they feel about it,” Peterson said “The commission needs to have those decisions publicly to make sure that everybody understands why they’re making the decisions that they’re making.”