Residents press county on ICE and possible military support; sheriff says agency will not enforce administrative immigration warrants

Two residents addressed the Lincoln County Commissioners to ask how local law enforcement would respond if federal immigration agents or military assets were used in the county.

"We're here to just ask about, working with the federal agents and ICE on immigration," said Deb Elliott, who identified herself from Bremen and asked whether the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office would honor administrative immigration warrants or only judicial warrants. A second speaker raised concern about a recent executive order that could make federal resources available to assist local law enforcement and said the order could be used to intimidate peaceful protesters.

In response Sheriff Brackett said the office has already taken a written stance: "I instructed my staff, via memorandum, which, which is policy that, we're not gonna take any stance on administrative warrants. They're not our concern. That's not our jurisdiction." He added the sheriff's office will continue to enforce judicial felony warrants and work with federal partners when appropriate.

Brackett described the local practice and the role of national databases: entries in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) can identify deported felons and administrative warrants, and he said deported-felon or judicial warrants will be enforced the same as other felony warrants. He also said the county intends to hold a public forum through a citizens advisory committee to explain local practices, Border Patrol's resident-agent presence, and to increase transparency.

Commissioners did not take formal action on the public comment. Several speakers asked for a law- or policy-level statement in the future; the sheriff's office said it will continue current practices and encouraged organizers of peaceful assemblies to communicate planned events to the department to improve safety planning.