CoreCivic is a responsible partner with Leavenworth, and will stay that way | Opinion
Leavenworth is a city that understands, perhaps better than anywhere in the country, the dedication it takes to operate secure facilities for the benefit of public safety. More than 30 years ago, CoreCivic built what is now known as the Midwest Regional Reception Center in Leavenworth, and we’ve been proud to be part of the community ever since. That’s why we want to make sure people in the community and surrounding area hear directly from us about the opportunity we have to serve the federal government at MRRC as a partner for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Let’s start with safety. I can promise you as warden that it’s my top priority. It’s part of everything we do and everything we train for. The end goal is always the safety of our residents, staff and community.
Concerns have been raised about the security of the facility when CoreCivic cared for individuals on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service. That partnership began in 1992, and while we’re proud of the operational track record we’ve built, there were challenges as that contract neared expiration in 2021. As Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens noted, the issues were concentrated in about an 18-month period over that 30-year relationship.
As with any difficult situation, we sought to learn from it. Staffing was the main contributor to the challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic compounded the labor issues. We’re grateful for a more stable labor market now, and we’ve had a positive response from job seekers interested in one of the 300 positions the facility will create. We’re also working to make MRRC an attractive employment option with competitive pay and benefits.
Additionally, we’re in ongoing discussions and have committed to enter a memorandum of understanding with the police department to address its concerns related to facility access and improved communications.
Next, let’s talk about immigration. We continue to stress the commitment from both ICE and CoreCivic that any individuals ordered released by the courts will not be released into the Leavenworth community. MRRC also won’t operate without direct oversight from our government partners. Whether it’s regular inspections, audits, assessments or onsite supervision, accountability is critical to the work we do.
In terms of immigration policy, CoreCivic does not and will not lobby on legislation or regulations that impact the basis for or duration of an individual’s detention. That’s completely up to our lawmakers. We also don’t and won’t enforce any immigration laws, arrest anyone who may be in violation of immigration laws or have any say whatsoever in an individual’s deportation or release.
Then there’s the matter of permitting. Our facility — which has been in Leavenworth since 1992 — is and always has been properly zoned. Leavenworth’s city code designates our site as an existing special use and lawful conforming use. While the city recently passed a resolution saying we need permission to open the facility, there’s nothing in Leavenworth’s code that allows for such a resolution to rescind zoning.
At the same time, we want to reiterate our strong desire to work in close partnership with Leavenworth and its leaders. As we’ve shared for several months, we are committed to paying a one-time impact fee of $1,000,000, a $250,000 annual impact fee and an additional $150,000 annual impact fee to the police department. This is in addition to the over $1,000,000 in annual property taxes CoreCivic already pays.
We believe the opportunity at Midwest Regional Reception Center offers many benefits to Leavenworth when you understand the facts. Unfortunately, some who aren’t part of this community have made that difficult, risking local jobs and expending taxpayer money in the process. Leavenworth residents should reject this intrusion, work with CoreCivic to continue to benefit the community and encourage their elected leaders to do the same.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM.