Конгрессвумен Эскобар оспаривает решение о закрытии федеральной тюрьмы La Tuna в Техасе

Congresswoman questions closure of Anthony, TX prison La Tuna ANTHONY, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar is continuing to question why the La Tuna federal prison in Anthony, Texas, needs to close after touring the facility herself. Escobar held a news conference Friday at her El Paso office, one day after conducting an oversight visit at La Tuna. She said the visit reinforced her concerns about the planned closure, saying the facility needs repairs but that she did not see conditions that would require it to shut down. “I didn't see any evidence of the need to shut it down immediately,” Escobar said Friday. “Nobody's safety or welfare is at risk because of the needs that exist there. There's no danger there.” During Thursday's visit, Escobar pointed to issues including HVAC repairs, work on the roof and plumbing. She said the Bureau of Prisons told her the facility needs approximately $80 million in infrastructure improvements. However, Escobar said Friday that she has seen similar and even worse conditions at other federal facilities that have not been slated for closure. She described La Tuna as an old but solid facility and said some areas have already received improvements, including upgraded cooling systems. “It is an old facility, for sure,” Escobar said. “But I will also tell you, it's pretty rock solid. I mean, it is a solid facility. Does it need upgrades? Yes. No doubt.” Escobar has also questioned federal spending priorities, saying that if $1.24 billion in taxpayer money can go toward Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss a detention center she has described as a “tent city” that does not meet federal standards — she does not understand why money cannot be allocated to make repairs at La Tuna and preserve jobs there. Following Thursday's oversight visit, Escobar said: My team and I just completed our oversight visit at La Tuna, which has been slated to be shut down next year, leaving hundreds of federal employees without their jobs and even more detainees whose families and lawyers are here in this community to be shuttled elsewhere across the country. I can share that there are infrastructure improvements that are necessary at La Tuna. We have infrastructure needs at nearly every federal facility - all over the country. I did not see evidence of why this facility needs to be shut down. We were told it would require $80 million of investment to fix HVAC, the roof and the plumbing. Meanwhile, for context, taxpayers are sending $1.24 billion to Camp East Montana, a tent city that still hasn’t met federal standards. Budgets are about our values. My focus is retaining these jobs and making sure we address the needs here at La Tuna. I look forward to meeting with employees of La Tuna later tonight." Escobar met with union representatives following her visit and discussed those concerns during Friday's news conference. She also criticized the Bureau of Prisons for not warning lawmakers about the potential closures before the congressional appropriations process, saying lawmakers could have had an opportunity to seek funding to address the problems. “We could very well have saved these facilities at the beginning of the appropriations process,” Escobar said. “But because the agency didn't come and talk to us, then those of us who hold the purse strings weren't able to fight specifically to mitigate this impact.” RELATED: La Tuna federal prison closure leaves questions about inmate transfers, employee futures The Federal Bureau of Prisons announced in July that La Tuna is one of six federal prison facilities slated to close as part of a nationwide consolidation plan. According to the agency, the closures are intended to address decades of deferred maintenance, aging infrastructure and chronic staffing shortages across the federal prison system. The agency has said inmates will be transferred to other federal correctional facilities. Escobar said Friday that questions remain about where La Tuna inmates will ultimately be sent and what will happen to programs currently operating at the prison. She raised concerns about inmates potentially being moved hundreds of miles from their families and attorneys. The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing Bureau of Prisons employees, previously estimated approximately 160 to 170 employees work at La Tuna. Escobar said Friday that there are more than 250 employees at the facility, though she noted there are some vacancies. She said some employees are already considering early retirement or transfers, while most want to remain in the El Paso area, where they have families, homes and support systems. “Some employees are doing early retirement because they don't want to get caught up in this,” Escobar said. “Some are looking to transfer, but the vast majority of them, my understanding, wants to stay here, wants to keep doing their job, within the community that they love.” Escobar said employees are not being provided money for moving expenses and that another Bureau of Prisons job is not guaranteed. Julian Patrick, president of AFGE Local 2516, previously said the union estimates that 90% to 95% of employees could be displaced by the closure, describing correctional work as “a specialty position” that cannot easily be replaced by other federal jobs in the region.t Escobar said another unanswered question is what the federal government intends to do with La Tuna if it is no longer used as a federal prison. She raised concerns Friday about possible privatization, including whether the property could eventually be used for immigration detention. Escobar said officials did not provide her with an answer about the government's plans for the property. “There's obviously a plan here,” Escobar said. “We just don't know what the plan is yet. And I think it's important that Congress get informed of what the plan is.” Escobar said the Bureau of Prisons has not indicated that the planned closure will be reversed or delayed, but she said she intends to work with the agency to try to prevent it. She has requested additional information from BOP about La Tuna's infrastructure, including previous investments made at the facility and how its needs compare with those at other federal prisons. Escobar said she expects the agency to provide answers within two to three weeks. RELATED: BOP to close six federal prisons, including La Tuna federal prison in Anthony After the closure was announced, the Town of Anthony released a statement saying the decision will affect the community. La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution has been a staple of the community for generations, and town officials said the facility and its employees have contributed to the local economy and played a role in the area's history. The town said it hopes to work with the federal government to explore ways the property could continue serving the public if the prison closes, including potentially as a museum, historical attraction, educational resource or as part of future municipal functions. “La Tuna is more than a correctional facility—it is part of the history and identity of our community,” Mayor Martin Lerma said. “While this closure marks the end of an era, we see an opportunity to preserve that history and ensure the property continues to serve the public and future generations.” Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.