CCA Go Away!

This Saturday, November 5th, 2011, was a historic day for immigrant activists of South Florida. Why you might ask? Let me explain. For the last six months, south Florida immigration advocates have been tussling back and forth, fighting off attempts of constructing one of the largest immigrant detention centers in America. This initiative of building the largest detention center in the nation began earlier this year, in June, where the Corrections Corporation of America held private meetings with political leaders and officials of different south Florida cities such as Homestead, Florida City, and Southwest Ranches to find the most optimum location for this new immigrant detention center. They agreed to begin construction in Southwest Ranches, a rural area of Broward county, where CCA and the town officials decided to hide details of this new detention center as best as possible and to keep the Broward residents at bay with the activities that were going on.
But, that is where the Florida Immigrant Coalition stepped in. Kathy Bird, lead organizer of this fight against CCA and the construction of this detention center, immediately began contacting the residents of Southwest Ranches to inform them of what exactly was going on in their backyards. Several town hall meetings were scheduled by the residents themselves, at their respective homes resulting in the filtration of what Southwest Ranches officials and CCA were plotting behind the residents' backs.
So, why was Saturday, November 5th, such an important date? Well, because of the pressure placed on CCA, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and the Southwest Ranches officials by Florida immigrant advocate groups, the leading players of this battle decided to hear what the residents had to say. This was an unprecedented townhall meeting where these large corporations were actually going to be present to listen to the voice of the people. And, they were not ready for what they were up against! About 300 + residents from all over south Florida packed the Southwest Regional Library in Pembroke Pines to voice their opposition at the building of this immigrant detention center in their backyard. They showed up in masses, chanting and yelling, "CCA Go Away!" waving posters and pinning stickers to their clothing demonstrating their opposition to the detention center.

This positive demonstration by south Florida immigrant advocate groups attending this important meeting was a great step in the right direction to the halting of this immigrant detention center erection. It is a steep battle to fight, especially since the leading anti-immigrant groups of the nation are spearheading this construction, but it is not over. Pro-immigrant activists in south Florida will not go down without a fight!