CoreCivic Statement on Mariee Juarez Case

Key Facts:

• CoreCivic does not provide the medical care at the South Texas Family Residential Center (STFRC). It is provided for by the government’s ICE Health Services Corps.
• The child and her mother were cared for at the residential center for 20 days, and the child passed away six weeks after leaving the facility.
• STFRC residents have open access to multiple onsite health clinics that are administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Those clinics are open 24/7 for sick call and medical emergencies, and scheduled appointments are offered seven days a week from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Our hearts go out to this family for the tragic loss of their child six weeks after leaving the STFRC. We care deeply about every person in our facilities. Our government partners rightly have very high standards for those in our care that we work hard to meet and exceed each day.

The STFRC was built during the Obama Administration for the purpose of caring for immigrant families and providing them with a wide range of services while they begin their legal process. Those services include a comprehensive student education center equipped with state-of-the-art, interactive smart boards, a desktop computer for each student and certified instructors for Pre-K through 12^th grade. We also provide monitored childcare; recreation areas including soccer fields, indoor basketball courts, handball courts and expansive outdoor play areas; and a 25,000+ volume library equipped with numerous desktop computers offering internet access. Each of our residential complexes is equipped with a 775-square foot playroom with large screen TVs, gaming and exercise equipment.

Mothers and children have freedom to move throughout the facility, including access to multiple onsite health and dental clinics administered by ICE.

Our residents receive healthy "all you can eat" meals, offered three times per day, and have access to healthy snacks and drinks 24/7 in their residential complexes. They also have access to telephones 24/7 with the ability to make phone calls to anywhere in the world and free phone calls to pro bono groups, government agencies and consulates. The residents also have laundry facilities available to them and showers available at all times. In addition, CoreCivic contracts with a cleaning service to clean the residences on a daily basis. 

STFRC is routinely inspected by both the state and federal government. For example, the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) inspects the facility as if it’s a licensed center for young children. The residential center has never been out of compliance with the state's regulatory requirements related to health and sanitation. STFRC is also inspected by the federal government approximately every four to six weeks.

For more information about the STFRC, please click here.