By Ed Bierschenk
The Times
GARY — An immigrant detention center apparently is off the table in Gary.
The Geo Group Inc., has withdrawn its request for a zoning variance adjacent to the Gary Chicago International Airport, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson announced at Tuesday’s Gary City Council meeting.
The announcement contained in a letter to the city was met with applause from the audience.
“I’d be surprised if they come back,” Freeman-Wilson said of the company.
Many in the audience had appeared at the meeting to oppose the GEO Group’s proposal.
A group of protesters held a prayer vigil prior to Tuesday’s council meeting in an effort to keep their opposition to the immigrant detention center in front of public officials.
The Rev. Cheryl Rivera, executive director of the Northwest Indiana Federation of Interfaith Organizations, said the group was praying city leaders would reject the immigrant detention center that has been proposed by the GEO Group, Inc., one of the nation’s largest operators of for profit correctional centers.
Rivera said the group also was praying for the immigrants’ “safety and that their families are protected.”
“God is good,” Rivera said after the announcement.
She said while they are pleased GEO withdrew its request for variance in Gary, they are still concerned the company still has land in Hobart.
The GEO Group had been seeking a variance for property across the street from the Gary Chicago International Airport that it was considering using for the detention center. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson had initially been in favor of the proposal, saying it could potentially create more than 200 jobs. But after protests about the proposed facility erupted, she withdrew her support. The GEO group has faced criticism in the past for alleged human rights violations at some of the facilities it operates, although the company said it is committed to protecting the human rights of the people in its care.
In a statement she issued last week, Freeman-Wilson wrote: “Whether it is my experience as an advocate for civil and human rights, my long history as a proponent of criminal justice reform, or even a staunch supporter of President (Barack) Obama’s immigration reform policy, I could not align my record with my support of the project.”
In addition to Rivera’s group, representatives of the League of United Latin American Citizens, Black Lives Matter-Gary, MIGHT210, and Concerned Citizens of Gary were among those participating in the vigil.
The groups came together under the name Just Communities NWI to fight the detention center proposal.
Members spoke out strongly against the proposal and read Scripture about the need to help strangers.
The Rev. Asher Harris, president elect of the Ministers Conference of Gary and vicinity, said his organization has voted against the proposal.
“We want to prevent this horror from happening in this city,” he said.
Rivera said the organization wants immigrants to be welcomed into America and be able to enjoy all the benefits of democracy.
“They helped build Northwest Indiana,” she said.