An 83-year-old man who grew up on a farm west of New Jersey joined hundreds of others at a recent town meeting to speak his opposition toward a proposed project in the area. Officials say a plan is in the works to construct a new immigration detention facility on the very farmland where the elderly gentleman spent his childhood. The man said professional baseball player, Lou Criger, who caught for Hall of Fame pitcher, Cy Young, also lived on the land for a time.

Because of this, the man said he thinks the farmland should be preserved as is and marked as a historical landmark. He said if his own parents were alive today, they would both be quite upset at the proposed project plans to convert the farmland to a detainment facility. Due to a delayed commission meeting, the final decision regarding the fate of the land will likely not be made until some time in March 2018.

Several hundred other residents showed up at the town meeting to oppose the idea of an immigration detention center in their town. Generally speaking, there has been a decrease in immigrant arrests at the border between the United States and Mexico, but data shows an increase in arrests in other areas of the nation. The proposed project will reportedly house more than 1,200 beds.

Immigration detention is a hot topic that often evokes strong emotion on both sides of the issue. Anyone facing a particular problem in New Jersey regarding an immigrant arrest, detainment or other issue can reach out to an experienced immigration attorney for guidance. Acting alongside someone who is well-versed in U.S. immigration law is often the swiftest means for protecting one's rights and overcoming a problem situation.

Source: southbendtribune.com, “Residents pack meeting to oppose immigration detention center in Elkhart County“, Caleb Bauer, Dec. 15, 2017