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Stearns County sheriff disputes 'sanctuary' listing, urges patience as BCA investigates officer-involved shooting
Summary
Sheriff Soika told the Stearns County Board of Commissioners on June 3 that the county had been named on an online "sanctuary county" list without clear criteria and that county practices toward federal immigration authorities have not changed.
Sheriff Soika told the Stearns County Board of Commissioners on June 3 that the county had been listed on an online “sanctuary county” list but that no clear criteria were available for how jurisdictions were added or removed.
"No one seems to know what you do to get on the list. No one seems to know how to get off the list," Sheriff Soika said, adding that the website hosting the list has been taken down since the county was named. He said the county has long cooperated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when required and that the sheriff's office has not changed its practices.
The sheriff described the county's usual booking process and said an international-check flag sometimes prompts ICE to contact local jails. "We notify them when we need to notify them," Soika said. "We will, however, if we receive a detainer signed by a federal magistrate... absolutely, we'll hold those people for as long as we need to." He said local law enforcement does not unilaterally honor administrative detainers without a judicial order.
Board members and staff said they had worked quickly to clarify the matter after the county's name circulated. The board referenced a letter from the National Sheriffs' Association that county staff circulated to commissioners, which helped prompt removal of the online list.
Separately, board members noted a fatal officer-involved shooting in Painesville. Sheriff Soika said the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will release more information as its investigation concludes. He said deputies involved in the recent incident are on paid administrative leave and that the department is providing support to those officers.
Chair (unnamed) thanked the sheriff and said the core message was that the sheriff's office is cooperating with federal authorities when required and has not changed longstanding practices.
The sheriff's remarks were delivered during the board's “issues by commissioners” segment; there was no formal board action on the matter at the meeting. The board asked staff to continue coordinating communications and to keep commissioners informed as federal and state agencies release official findings.
