Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement after visiting Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) La Tuna:
"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."
