Officials in a rural Tennessee town have voted to approve agreements to turn a former prison into an immigration detention facility operated by a private company, despite loud objections from upset residents and activists during a contentious public meeting.

CoreCivic’s history in Mason is not good, according to residents within the town and those who live in neighboring communities.

In a heated board meeting for the town of Mason Tuesday, a contract was approved for CoreCivic to operate a former West Tennessee prison as an immigration detention facility.