Resident asks Beaver County commissioners for records on alleged 287(g) agreement with ICE; county and sheriff provide differing descriptions

Joel Dixon, a Freedom resident, told the Beaver County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 14 that he and a community group believe the Beaver County Sheriff's Office has entered a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and said he filed a Right-to-Know request seeking records.

Dixon said the group's concern centers on how local law enforcement participates with ICE and whether constitutional and due-process rights of immigrants are being observed. "We want to ensure that we're following the constitution and have due process rights of any immigrant regardless of what their status is," Dixon told the commissioners, providing a copy of his request to county staff.

The county responded in the meeting that the commission and the law department had not approved any 287(g) agreement. A law department representative told the board that contracts and agreements signed on behalf of the county normally require a resolution from the commissioners and that they had not seen the agreement Dixon referenced.

A representative of the sheriff's department told the commissioners that the only agreement the county has with ICE is a long-standing arrangement to temporarily house detainees at the county jail for short periods, and that the sheriff's office does not have transport responsibilities or a broader task-force arrangement with ICE. "The only agreement we've ever had with ICE was for, them to temporarily detain people at the county jail," the sheriff's department representative said.

County staff explained to Dixon that his Right-to-Know request would be processed by county records staff and that state timelines apply. "Under law, we have five days to get you a response," a county staff member said during the meeting.

Dixon also said his group has identified other municipal examples and expressed concern that federal grant programs sometimes prioritize agencies that have agreements with DHS or ICE. He said that can create pressure on local law enforcement to sign such agreements in order to receive federal funding.

In response, county officials described three types of ways local law enforcement can interact with ICE: service of warrants, confinement/corrections (temporary detention), and task-force agreements that allow joint operational activity. Commissioners and the law department said they would review records and the Right-to-Know submission to determine whether any county official had executed a 287(g)-type memorandum of agreement without board approval.

The public-comment exchange concluded without a formal action by the board; county staff said the Right-to-Know response would be provided according to applicable rules and timelines.

Votes at a glance

- Proclamation: Blackhawk Clay Target Team, congratulating team on national placement — approved (voice vote). - Proclamation: Hookstown Fair (as listed in the record) observance Aug. 9'Aug. 2025 (70th anniversary as recorded) — approved (voice vote). - Proclamation: Big Knog Range Fair (as listed in the record) observance Aug. 25'Aug. 30, 2025 (83rd annual as recorded) — approved (voice vote). - Approval of minutes: multiple meeting minutes (July 24, July 23, July 30, Aug. 6, 2025) — approved (voice votes). - Motion to pay county bills (controller): approved (voice vote). - Human resources personnel report (Attachment A): approved (voice vote). - Bid opening (Attachment B): approved (voice vote). - Appointment: Frank Bessey to Redevelopment Authority Board, five-year term commencing Sept. 1, 2025, expiring Aug. 31, 2030 (as recorded) — approved (voice vote). - Resolutions: Resolutions numbered 081425-01 through 081425-50 were presented and recommended for approval by the law department; commissioners approved the resolutions by voice vote with one abstention recorded on resolution number 49. (The meeting record shows "I'll abstain on number 49" but does not identify the speaker by name.)

No ballot-style tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript for these voice votes; outcomes are recorded as approved unless the transcript records otherwise.

Ending

The board took no formal action during the meeting specifically addressing the 287(g) question; county staff said the Right-to-Know response would be provided and commissioners said they would review any records produced. The next public meeting was announced for Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. in the Treasurer's Public Meeting Room.