City of Pembroke Pines

2004

Frank: C. Ortis, Mayor Iris A. Siple, Vice-Mayor Charles F. Dodge, City Manager March 29, 2012
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL AND EMAIL

Angelo Castillo, Corrunissioner Jay Schwartz, Corrunissioner Carl Shechter, Corrunissioner

Gary Mead
Executive Association Director
Enforcement & Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Washington, D.C. 20536
Re: City of Pembroke Pines / Town of Southwest Ranches Proposed Detention Facility

Dear Mr. Mead: I am writing to you in my capacity as City Manager for the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida (the "City"). Our City is located adjacent to the Town of Southwest Ranches (the "Town"), and many of our residents have a vested interest in the ongoing discussions between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency ("ICE") and the Corrections Corporations of America, Inc. ("CCA") regarding the proposal to locate an ICE detention facility on CCA-owned property within the Town. On March 28, 2012, I was contacted by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz's office and specifically advised that ICE had reevaluated its needs for detention beds in the South Florida region and that the CCA parcel in Southwest Ranches was no longer being considered as a potential location for an ICE detention facility. A short time later, I received a second telephone call from the congresswoman's office advising that the earlier communication was premature. Thereafter, I received an email from Keith PoIiakoff, the Town Attorney for the Town, which expressly stated as follows: Earlier today, inaccurate information circulated that U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement was no longer considering Southwest Ranches as the site for the South Florida Detention Center. This information is incorrect. Officials with ICE, CCA and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz office confirm that the project continues to move forward. The Town regrets any confusion this may have caused.

10100 Pines Boulevard Pembroke Pines, Florida 33026 954-431-4884

As you are no doubt aware, the proposal to locate an ICE detention facility in the Town is a source of great concern to the City and its residents. On February 1,2012, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 3330, thereby expressing its opposition to the proposed location of an ICE detention facility in the Town. The City is also currently involved in multiple lawsuits with CCA regarding this specific project. The conflicting messages received by the City yesterday add considerably to the tension and uncertainty surrounding this proposaL The City, the Town and CCA have different, and at times competing, interests with regards to the proposed detention facility. The congresswoman's office would not have provided information on such a sensitive topic without expressed authority to do so from ICE. If the information provided in the Town Attorney's email is accurate, it is troubling that the Town Attorney would be used to convey an official clarification on behalf of ICE. In light of the foregoing and in an effort to ensure that the City is in receipt of the latest factual information, I am writing to you directly to request an update on the status of ICE's efforts, if any, to locate a detention facility on the CCA parcel within the Town. There has been a great deal of information about this project disseminated in recent months, however, absent direct communication from ICE, the City has not been able to separate the inaccuracies from the facts. I am also specifically requesting an explanation with regards to the conflicting messages that the City received on March 28, 2012. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, kindly provide my office with copies of all correspondence and communication by and between ICE, the Town, Keith Poliakoff or anyone representing the law firm Becker Poliakoff, the office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, CCA, and any attorney representing CCA regarding the communications described above. Your prompt assistance in providing an update on this matter is greatly appreciated. Please contact my office if there is any additional information that the City can provide. Sincerely,

Charles F. Dodge City Manager CFD/jgh

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CC: Mayor Frank C. Ortis Members of the City Commission Samuel S. Goren, City Attorney Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz Senator Bill Nelson Senator Marco Rubio