07.30.08
T. Don Hutto Public Forum Scheduled For September In Georgetown
Mark you calendars! There will be a public forum to discuss T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor on September 24, 2008 7:00 PM, at the Georgetown Public Library:
Immigration Reform Effort (IRE) will host a public forum to explore the many and diverse aspects of this particular facility-and the future expansion of similar facilities as a part of our immigration policy.
As presented by Dr. Terri Hall, on behalf of Immigration Reform Effort (IRE) at yesterday’s Williamson County Commissioners Court (WCCC) meeting the forum “is to be a dignified and serious exploration of issues relating to this most important controversy”. Here’s who has been invited to participate.
Invited panelists include:
Barbara Hines, clinical professor of law and director of the Immigration Clinic at The University of Texas School of Law; co-counsel in the lawsuits challenging conditions at T. Don Hutto.
Wayne Krause, Legal Director, Austin office for the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Bob Libal, Texas Coordinator, Grassroots Leadership: Grassroots Leadership works to abolish for-profit private prisons.
Jose Orta, President, LULAC Council 4721, and longtime Taylor resident and critic of T D Hutto.
John Carter, United States Congress, 31st District of Texas, in which T Don Hutto is located.
Dan A Gattis, County Judge, Williamson County Commissioners Court, Texas; serves as chief administrator for T Don Hutto pass-through contract with CCA.
Julie Meyers, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
John Ferguson, President and CEO of Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), which owns, and has contract with ICE to operate, T Don Hutto.
Moderator: Doug Smith, Georgetown community leader and former Mayor Pro-Tem.
So far Professor Barbara Hines, Wayne Krause, Bob Libal, and Jose Orta, have all agreed to participate in the forum. Let’s hope the rest will join the forum as well. Dr. Hall was at the WCCC meeting yesterday and spoke to the fact that Judge Gattis, and the entire WCCC, act in a contractual over-sight capacity of the contract between ICE and CCA strongly supports Judge Gattis’ responsibility to participate.
Getting all of these people together along with the public to have a dignified and serious discussion of this issue can only help everyone to have a better understanding of the T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor. More information to come as the forum approaches.
remerson said,
August 1, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Seems very strange that the four experts who have “reservations” about T Don Hutto have quickly confirmed their willingness to participate and those who sing its glories have, unh, “reservations” about showing up.
Now I wonder why that is.
wcnews said,
August 4, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I don’t think it’s strange at all. Par for the course.
Eye on Williamson » Gattis, Carter, ICE, CCA Unlikely To Attend Local Forum On T. Don Hutto said,
August 22, 2008 at 9:29 am
[...] July when the forum was announced it seemed like a long shot that any of the above would actually show up. Especially since it was [...]
Eye on Williamson » Local Republicans, ICE, CCA Won’t Attend Forum On T. Don Hutto said,
September 18, 2008 at 11:55 am
[...] ICE and CCA, that were invited will not attend next week’s forum, (EOW’s initial report here), on T. Don Hutto in Taylor, Officials’ Silence Speaks Loudly at Hutto Forum. Billed as an [...]
Eye on Williamson » Public Forum On T. Don Hutto Tonight In Georgetown said,
September 24, 2008 at 1:23 pm
[...] discuss T. Don Hutto facility. It’s at 7:00 PM, at the Georgetown Public Library (MAP). Those invited to attend are: Barbara Hines, clinical professor of law and director of the Immigration Clinic at The University [...]