TOP OFFICIAL AT MIAMI DETENTION CENTER RESIGNS Edward Stubbs, for the past two years the director of the INS’ Krome Detention Center in Miami, has suddenly announced his resignation. He was director of the detention center for less than two years. He is returning to the job he held before coming to Krome, acting as a US Marshal.
His decision has taken people both inside and outside the INS by surprise. Immigration advocates familiar with the facility had generally approved of his efforts to improve conditions at the detention center, which is dreadfully overcrowded and often the subject of complaints of mistreatment from detainees.
Stubbs’ departure comes as allegations of sexual misconduct by officers working at the detention center. A number of female detainees say that they have been pressured by the officers into providing sexual favors. There is also an allegation that an officer raped a transsexual detainee. The director of detention and deportation for the Miami INS district says the allegations have nothing to do with Stubbs’ decision to leave, but also said he did not know why Stubbs decided to resign.
During Stubbs tenure, many significant improvements were made at Krome. He initiated a $20 million renovation, and he opened the camp to the public, a move that won great praise from immigration advocates. However, for all the attempted improvements, changes in immigration law made it almost impossible to run the center properly. The increasing number of people detained pending deportation, and the indefinite detention of those who cannot be deported led to significant crowding and shortages of basic supplies. Stubbs also faced a system in which it is difficult to remove officers who do not do their job correctly. He also publicly expressed his sentiment that the problems at Krome were caused by a group of supervisors who resisted his efforts at change.
Advocates are concerned that Stubbs’ departure will make meaningful reform at the center impossible. He is only the latest high-level official to leave the center in recent times. They fear that conditions at the center have deteriorated so far that no one will be able to stay on the job long enough to make a real difference.
Stubbs’ position will be filled by William Clary, currently the assistant director for detention and deportation at the INS’ Buffalo District Office until someone is named to fill it permanently. < Back | Next > Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. | 
