Core Civic responds to requests for comment

Core Civic responded to requests for comment from the Journal about a letter to the DHS secretary regarding ICE and the Torrance County Detention Facility.

In a story in the Sunday Journal, it was reported that Core Civic had not immediately responded about the letter from Rep. Melanie Stansbury and her fellow members of Congress

Both immigrants awaiting hearings and people arrested in Torrance County are detained in the facility, according to Core Civic spokesperson Brian Todd, but are kept in different areas. Todd said the safety, health and well-being of the people in the company’s care and the staff is its top priority in a statement from Core Civic.

“We continue to hear claims and allegations about the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF) that simply don’t reflect the quality of the services provided at the facility or the professionalism of our team. The reality is that we provide a safe, humane and appropriate environment for the individuals at TCDF and are constantly striving to deliver an even better standard of care,” the statement said.

Todd also pointed out that TCDF received superior ratings in its annual fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 audits from the ICE Office of Detention and Oversight. The statement also noted that local and federal elected officials have made unannounced visits to the facility and echoed the audits.

“We’re proud of our dedicated team at TCDF who work hard every day to keep those in our care safe while providing for their needs as they progress through the civil immigration process. Our staff are trained and held to the highest ethical standards as part of our commitment to our Human Rights Policy,” the statement read.

According to Todd, there were two plumbing incidents at the detention facility on Nov. 14, 2023. One involved a flush valve that was quickly repaired. The other involved backup with a toilet “where detainees had flushed shirts and rages, which were retrieved by the maintenance officer.” There was no raw sewage in either incident, Todd said, no medical issues resulted from the plumbing incidents and scheduled services were not disrupted.