ICE considering Franklin County prison site for detention facility

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Franklin County Sheriff Johnny Crocker says ICE is considering using the proposed prison site in Charleston as a detention facility, and that the county and his deputies are ill-equipped to handle it.

Crocker says Chief Deputy John Little came across three ICE agents at the prison site while on patrol.

Crocker says the ICE agents told Little they were considering using the proposed site as a detention facility. The sheriff said Little told the ICE agents it would take three to five years before anything could be built, if at all.

Crocker says the ICE agents told Little the department could have a facility set up “very quickly,” and that it would have a temporary facility built first.

According to Crocker, Joe Profiri, former Arkansas Secretary of Corrections and current senior advisor to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, drove to the site and was visibly frustrated when he saw Little. Profiri did not speak to Little and took the three agents through the site’s gate, according to Sheriff Crocker.

Crocker says he has seen many temporary structures like the one proposed at the prison site while serving in the military, and believes they are not suitable for Franklin County.

“We don’t want that in this state,” Crocker said. “Get a hard structure that can house them and safely secure them for the safety of the citizens of not only Arkansas, but the United States.”

Sanders’ office provided KNWA/FOX24 with the following statement regarding the possibility of an ICE facility in Franklin County.

“Governor Sanders’ Administration is in ongoing conversations with the Trump Administration and federal immigration officials on how best to support the President’s work to secure the border and get violent, criminal illegal aliens off our streets.”

But the local sheriff doesn’t believe that.

“No, you’re not,” Crocker said in response to the statement. “You’re trying to make money because you spent $100 million on something that’s failed, that you can’t build a prison on, and now you’re trying to find a way out.”

Crocker says there is not enough personnel to secure the facility proposed for the site. He says the sheriff’s office operates on a low crime rate, and a prison or ICE facility would overburden deputies.

He says Franklin County does not want a prison or ICE detainment facility, and those complexes would be best suited for other counties that say they need one. The sheriff says the county does not have a problem with immigration.

Crocker says the state and federal governments should be more transparent with taxpayers on their plans for the prison site.

State Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest) provided the below statement to KNWA/FOX24 regarding the proposed ICE facility.

The proposed mega prison has been riddled with lies, deception, and gross incompetence. Sadly, the Governor is looking for another taxpayer bailout for a mega prison scam that will only profit the ‘consultants’, prison building companies and politicians. We can lower crime in this state in a financially responsible way that will benefit Arkansans and not bankrupt the state and federal government. No-show Joe Profri needs to be fired immediately. He runs from being sworn in under oath and only shows up to cash checks off hard-working Arkansans

The prison site has been mired in controversy since its inception.

People in the small town of Charleston, where the prison’s set to go, say they don’t like the risk of inmates escaping and ending up near their homes. They also say they fear it brings down the property value of homes near the prison that have been there for some time.

The Chickamauga Nation has voiced opposition to the proposed construction of the 3,000-bed prison, arguing that the site may contain culturally significant burial grounds.

Another concern for the prison involves the availability of water.

A legislative hearing was held Sept. 10, where lawmakers listened to testimony and evidence from the group, Gravel and Grit, who oppose the prison. They brought concerns from the price tag, to the site study before the land was purchased, to community input.

You can watch Crocker’s full interview with KNWA/FOX24 in the video above.