Company drops request for immigrant detention center

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A Florida-based company has withdrawn its request for a zoning variance to build an 800-bed immigration detention facility near the Gary Chicago International Airport.

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson announced the news at a city council meeting Tuesday. She recently had withdrawn her support for the project.

The GEO Group Inc. had proposed building the detention center. The (Munster) Times reports there was applause from people attending the city council meeting when the mayor announced the company was dropping its proposal.

GEO Group operates correctional facilities in the United States and abroad. The American Civil Liberties Union has criticized the company for human rights violations.

Foes of the company's Gary project included members of the Northwest Indiana Federation and Black Lives Matter NWI-Gary.

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