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Board adopts resolution opposing proposed detention facility near Lebanon, amends to express support for law enforcement
Summary
The board passed an amended resolution opposing a proposed federal detention facility near Lebanon, citing proximity to schools and infrastructure concerns; during debate the board added language expressing support for ICE and all law enforcement before approving the resolution 7–0.
Board member Jamie Farrell read a resolution formally opposing a proposed federal immigration detention facility near Lebanon that, according to language cited during the meeting, could house as many as 14,000–16,000 detainees in preliminary reporting. Farrell said the board's charge is student safety and that a facility of that size "would make it the largest detention center of its kind to date in The United States," and cited proximity metrics that the draft resolution described (within 2 miles of four county schools and within 10 miles of eight county schools).
During discussion several board members expressed concern about how the resolution could be perceived and whether it might imply fault of district facilities; the board debated an amendment adding an explicit statement of support for ICE and law enforcement agencies. The amendment—to state that the Wilson County Board of Education "supports ICE and all law enforcement agencies and their operations"—was adopted unanimously, and the amended resolution passed 7–0.
The resolution as amended will be distributed to local and state elected officials and federal contacts named in the draft (county mayor, Lebanon city officials, Tennessee legislative delegation, governor, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security), with signatures to be added after final formatting and the amendment.
