WATONGA, Okla. (KFOR) – Immigration attorneys have said they’ve been having problems contacting clients behind the doors of the Diamondback Correctional facility in Watonga.
“These families are paying for our services, and we can’t provide those services if we can’t communicate with the client or the facility,” said attorney Braxton Coil of Rivas & Associates.
The Oklahoman was the first to report the issues seen. They spoke to several attorneys and advocates who expressed concern that the facility operated by CoreCivic hampered essential services and vital legal consultations in a rush to accommodate federal mandates.
“It was absolutely rushed. Absolutely, it was rushed. That place was not taken care of, and it wasn’t properly thought out,” said Coil.
Diamondback began taking in immigrant detainees in December, and in a quarterly conference call with investors in February, the operator announced that it complied.
“We’re confident that the detention beds we provide are the most humane, most efficient logistically, and the most secure,” said a CoreCivic spokesperson during the call.
The new contract at Diamondback is reportedly for five years, with annual revenue for CoreCivic expected to be $100 million, and detainees are set to begin in early 2026. They’ve poured in, and the operator said that they expect to be filled up halfway through the year.
Coil said it is the rush to open the doors that has caused the issue they’re seeing now.
She said that they have had someone go to Watonga in person after trying to call over and over again.
Your tax dollars partly go to the facility, as the Oklahoma Department of Corrections is a sort of middleman when it comes to the CoreCivic contract in Watonga.
Coil said that when they called in their complaint, someone at CoreCivic said that they had had a hundred complaints for the same issue that day.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Coil.
According to CoreCivic, attorneys should be able to go for an in-person visitation. They pointed to recently completed construction to “provide a safe, secure area for in-person visitation and private phone booths for confidential legal calls. In‑person attorney visitation resumed March 2, and is available seven days per week, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., including holidays.”
News 4 asked CoreCivic what attorneys should do who still can’t get ahold of their clients or family members.
CoreCivic said, “It is also important to know that legal representatives have had and will continue to have the option to request video teleconference (VTC) meetings or confidential legal phone calls with their clients or prospective clients. All appointments for VTC meetings or phone calls should be made 24 hours prior to the desired appointment time. Appointments are scheduled 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and are in 30 to 60-minute increments.
To support continued access to legal counsel, DCF has recently implemented the Virtual Attorney Visitation (VAV) Program. VAV facilitates confidential attorney-client conversations through virtual technology. They provide a free, timely, efficient communication alternative between attorneys and their clients.
CoreCivic remains committed to maintaining safe, secure, and humane operations and to supporting appropriate access for attorneys, family members, and other authorized visitors.
We take concerns raised by stakeholders seriously and continue to evaluate operations to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and applicable regulations.”
“Maybe move them if it’s not possible to release, the ones that need to be released. Move them to facilities where we are going to have access to speak with them and not hold detainees in that facility until they are up and running and completely able to have communication with clients,” said Coil.
