MASON, Tenn. (WKRN) — The small town of Mason is moving forward with plans to reopen a closed prison as an ICE detention center operated by the private, Tennessee-based company, CoreCivic.

Town leaders voted Tuesday to approve a contract with CoreCivic and ICE, despite major opposition from Mason residents.

“When ICE comes in, get ready to pack up, get ready to ditch...because this town will not be safe anymore," one Mason neighbor said during the meeting.

According to CoreCivic, the ICE facility will create around 240 jobs, generate $350,000 in property taxes, and another $200,000 in an annual impact fee for the town's economic development.

However, for CoreCivic, the deal is part of a long-standing relationship with ICE, which company executives said during an earnings call late last

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