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Former La Tuna employee raises concerns over federal prison’s closure and layoffs
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Heriberto Perez Lara , KVIA ABC-7
· July 22, 2026
· 2 min read
ANTHONY, Texas (KVIA) -- A local person with knowledge of the operations at La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution, who asked to remain anonymous, is speaking out about the recent announcement that six Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities will close across the country, including the one in Anth...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Heriberto Perez Lara, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The former employee told ABC-7 that La Tuna needs approximately 250 staff members to be fully staffed; right now, he said, they have around 230.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The closure of La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution will have a direct impact on the local economy, particularly in Anthony, Texas, where the facility is a significant employer. With approximately 230 staff members currently working at the prison, the layoffs resulting from the closure will likely affect not only the employees but also their families and the surrounding community. The fact that the facility is already understaffed, with 20 fewer employees than needed, raises concerns about the ability of the remaining staff to manage the transition and maintain the safety and security of the prison. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar's statement highlights the lack of transparency from the Bureau of Prisons, which may have caught local officials and residents off guard, making it more challenging to prepare for the economic and social implications of the closure. The community will be watching to see how the federal government and local leaders will support the affected employees and mitigate the impact on the local economy.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 2 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ANTHONY, Texas (KVIA) -- A local person with knowledge of the operations at La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution, who asked to remain anonymous, is speaking out about the recent announcement that six Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities will close across the country, including the one in Anth...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Heriberto Perez Lara at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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