MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — As the Trump administration rolls out its deportation efforts, Republican State Sen. John Kavanagh plans to propose a bill in the coming days that could allow for a Marana prison to be used for processing people.
Kavanagh says his bill will allow the federal government to lease the Marana prison located near Sanders and Silverbell for $1 a year.
He says as part of the lease agreement they would have to maintain it and return the facility in its same condition.
The prison has a capacity for about 500 people.
Kavanagh says it will be a four-year lease, but the state will have the opportunity to cancel with one year’s notice in the event the prison is needed for Arizona prisoners.
“The federal government is going to need all the cooperation it can from state and local governments to cooperate in this deportation operation and they will need space to house people who are being processed for deportation,” Kavanagh said.
Marana Mayor Jon Post says he doesn’t know exactly what the bill will include, but says the facility’s closure in 2023 cost the town some jobs.
“So at the end of the day, if it brings good-paying jobs to Marana, I’m behind it,” Post said.
Kavanagh says if the bill gets vetoed, he would bring it back next year as a ballot referral – which would go to voters.
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Madison Thomas joined KGUN 9 in July of 2023 as a multimedia journalist. She graduated from Arizona State University in May of 2023 with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She has lived in Arizona her entire life and grew up in Douglas. Madison is thrilled to share the stories from the community she grew up in. Share your story ideas and important issues with Madison by emailing madison.thomas@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
