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Southwest Key sounds like something out of Florida, but it is a locally-based non-profit corporation that currently runs detention centers in a few states (including Texas). Their shelters serve as holding centers for immigrant minors who came to the US without parent or guardian. Southwest Key asserts that their programs are nothing like the immigrant family detention center in Taylor (the Taylor center is run by a for-profit corporation).
The Austin organization, for which former mayor Gus Garcia is a board member, is hoping to open up a community center in East Austin, near Johnston High School. The center has been in the works for a few years. The community center would include a charter school (if approved by the state), and is proposed to provide such services as afterschool care, English classes, computer training and the like. The planned facilities would also include new corporate headquarters for Southwest Key.
This center, which has so far received $991,000 from the city of Austin, is stirring up some controversy. LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) is strongly opposed to the organization's plans. While Southwest Key is asking for $800,000 more from the city, the local branch of LULAC is recommending that the city not give Southwest Key's project the funds because of their detention center work. Some residents of East Austin say that LULAC is wrong in this situation, that this center would be of great service and benefit to residents of the neighborhood.
The city council has yet to approve the $800,000 request and hasn't announced any decision on the funding, although the Center was discussed at yesterday's meeting. The center is planned to finish construction at the end of August; Southwest Key hopes to have their charter school for 6th graders starting up in August of next year.
[Statesman: East Austin development project and charter school divides community groups]
[News 8:LULAC opposes city funding for juvenile delinquency group]
Photo of center model from Southwest Key's site
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I agree with the LULAC. We shouldn't support any organization that assists the government in detaining immigrants. Oh, the irony of those guys building a "community" center on the east side. I wonder if it'll have some cells installed. (You know, just in-case.)
I don't agree with LULAC at all.
They are in effect punishing the poor, mostly minority people who would benefit from this facility just to make a political point. This isn't some little public relations ploy from a huge, greedy corporation designed to deflect criticism like the "prescriptions for the poor" programs currently run by the pharmaceutical industry.
From what I understand, Southwest Key is a non-profit. That is a very important point - NON-PROFIT. They want to provide an alternative to detention. They provide education, job training, counseling, medical and dental services. They do not work for law enforcement or the INS - instead they try to intercede when these organizations want to institutionalize immigrants, and to provide an alternative that still complies with the law.
LULAC seems to want to “cut off their nose to spite their face” by taking out their very justifiable anger on the wrong target.
LULAC is probably just jealous that they didn't think of it first. It's hard to plan rec centers for poor kids when you've got so many luncheons to plan.