Sheriff's 287(g) application with Homeland Security pending; county signature needed for insurance coverage

County staff reported Wednesday that the sheriff has submitted an application to participate in the federal 287(g) program but has not yet received approval from the Department of Homeland Security, and that the commissioners must decide whether to sign a local agreement that affects insurance coverage for deputies who would operate under the program.

At the work session a county official summarized the status: the sheriff "did fill his application out and put it through to the, who would it be through Homeland Security?" The official said Homeland Security has not provided a timeline for review and approval. County attorneys confirmed they had consulted the insurer and said that unless the commissioners sign the local agreement, the deputies operating under 287(g) would not be covered under the county's insurance.

County staff emphasized the sheriff's stated intent is not to conduct immigration raids but to have database access to determine whether an individual in county custody has an outstanding immigration status question. "They want to be able to have access to the database so that if there's a warrant out for an individual in Beaver County, that they have access to see if that person is an illegal immigrant or, a legal immigrant," a county official said.

Members of the public asked what happens to people who were taken into custody without clear information; county staff said individuals would be processed by ICE if a transfer occurs. No formal decision was made at the work session; staff said the matter will return to the commissioners for a decision if and when Homeland Security approves the sheriff's application and when the county receives the proposed agreement for signature.