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Sheriff introduces new under-sheriff and outlines county handling of ICE detainers
Summary
Sheriff Hood introduced James Patron as the county's new under-sheriff and told supervisors the county will not honor ICE administrative detainers without accompanying criminal charges signed by a magistrate; the State Sheriffs Association advises against holding detainees on unsigned administrative orders.
Sheriff Hood introduced James Patron as Madison County’s new under-sheriff at the Feb. 4 meeting and briefed supervisors on current practice and legal constraints for responding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers.
"So this is James Patron, my new under sheriff," Hood said, introducing the appointee and describing Patron’s background at the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, where Hood said Patron was a chief investigator on homicide cases. Hood said Patron joined the sheriff’s office about a month ago.
Later in the meeting, Hood described how the sheriff’s office is processing ICE detainers. He explained that ICE administrative detainers do not, by themselves, meet the county’s criteria for holding someone in custody. "If they come in with a criminal charge attached to it signed by a magistrate, then it will work," Hood said. He added that the State Sheriffs Association advises county jails not to accept administrative detainers that lack a judge-signed criminal charge.
Hood said some counties have previously been sued for holding people on administrative detainers that lacked a judicial signature and that the county’s current practice is to accept detainees only when a criminal charge is present. He said federal housing facilities used by ICE exist in other states and that counties negotiate rates when they provide housing services for federal detainees.
Discussion among supervisors included clarifying questions about whether individuals encountered by ICE during other operations would be detained locally without criminal charges. Hood reiterated the distinction: counties will not hold people solely on an ICE administrative detainer; a criminal charge is required for the county jail to house someone for ICE.
The board did not take formal action on the policy during the meeting; the sheriff’s remarks were presented as an informational update. Hood also invited supervisors to contact his office or the new under-sheriff with questions or concerns.
