Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Immigration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff explains plan to pursue ICE 287(g) jail-based program, says program targets criminal detainees
Summary
Hamilton County’s sheriff told the council the county is moving through ICE’s 287(g) jail-based program process; the sheriff said the program is intended for people arrested and booked into the county jail and not for victims or witnesses.
Hamilton County’s sheriff told the county council on Feb. 5 that the sheriff’s office is pursuing enrollment in ICE’s 287(g) jail-based program, which would authorize trained county officers to serve certain immigration detainers at the jail under a memorandum of understanding with federal authorities.
The sheriff described the program as limited to people who are arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Jail and said it is not intended to target crime victims, witnesses or community members who are not arrested. The sheriff said enrollment requires training and a signed MOU with Homeland Security and that timing depends on ICE’s scheduling and approval processes.
The sheriff said the office handled 77 ICE detainers last year and that roughly 600 people booked into the jail last year self-reported as non–U.S. citizens; the sheriff characterized that latter figure as self-reported and said the 287(g) process would provide a way to verify status for some individuals.
The sheriff told the council the program addresses a county operational issue: if ICE does not appear within 48 hours to take custody of a detainee, the county may otherwise need to release the person. Under the 287(g) arrangement, trained deputies would be able to serve detainers so federal authorities can remove eligible individuals; the sheriff said ICE has assured the county that when detainers are served ICE will assume custody or arrange transport, limiting additional local housing costs.
The sheriff asked the community to continue to report crimes and cooperate with law enforcement, noting the program targets people arrested for crimes and not community members seeking help. The sheriff also said the county does not expect a major funding impact from joining the program because staffing and some functions already exist in the sheriff’s office, though the timing and final terms of an MOU remain at ICE’s discretion.
No formal council action on 287(g) took place at the Feb. 5 meeting; the sheriff said discussions with ICE and internal planning are ongoing.
