Mason, Tennessee, a small town covering just 2 square miles and home to around 1,000 residents, is facing a significant divide over the reopening of a local immigration detention facility. Earlier this month, town leaders voted to convert the closed West Tennessee Detention Facility into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center.

Shannon Whitfield, a resident of Mason for 13 years, expressed strong opposition to the decision. "This is not the place for an ICE facility. This is not the place for a for-profit prison," he stated.

Mason has struggled with financial issues in the past, including allegations of corruption and mismanagement that left the town with substantial debt and few businesses. The West Tennessee Detention Facility has been closed for nearly four years. When it reopens, it will have approximately 600 beds available for ICE detainees.

CoreCivic, the private company that owns the facility, claims that the prison will create over 200 jobs and generate significant tax revenue for Mason and the state of Tennessee. Mayor Eddie Noeman supports the detention center, citing the potential economic benefits.

However, Alderwoman Virginia Rivers voted against the facility. "I need it to be clear I am all for jobs coming to the town of Mason," she said. "What I'm not for is when it comes to mistreating the people. All money is not good money."

The decision to reopen the facility comes after President Trump reversed a policy from former President Biden that had prevented the Justice Department from renewing contracts with private prison companies. CoreCivic had to close the facility in 2021 due to Biden's executive order.

In a statement, CoreCivic expressed pride in its long-standing relationship with the Mason and Tipton County community, which spans nearly 35 years. The company did not provide a timeline for when the facility would become operational.

CoreCivic is the largest private prison operator in the U.S. and the only one in Tennessee. However, state audits have repeatedly found deficiencies in staffing and high turnover rates at CoreCivic facilities. A recent analysis indicated that inmates in CoreCivic prisons are twice as likely to be killed compared to those in government-run facilities, a claim that CoreCivic disputes.

Rivers emphasized the need for more community resources, stating, "We need other things in our community. We need homes. We need a school, day care." While West Tennessee may see new businesses, such as Ford, bringing jobs in the future, that is not expected to happen for several years.

As the town grapples with this decision, Whitfield voiced his concerns for his neighbors. "I don't want my neighbors to go to work out there," he said. "I don't want them to have to make that choice of, to get benefits and to get enough money. They have to give away that piece of their soul."