Residents urge Butler County to reconsider ICE detention contract at public comment
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Summary
Multiple residents told commissioners they oppose Butler County's ICE detention contract, raising moral concerns, asking for pauses on county revenue tied to ICE and requesting more transparency about detainees; commissioners did not take formal action at the meeting.
A series of public commenters urged the Butler County Board of Commissioners to reconsider the county’s contract to house Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, calling for more transparency and for the board to pause revenue or contractual arrangements tied to ICE detentions.
"Our county is notorious for its ICE contract," said Kathy Brinkman of Oxford, criticizing the county’s reputation and urging compassion for those affected. Multiple speakers described fear in immigrant communities, questioned the logistics and morality of the contract and urged commissioners to consider the human impacts on families.
Ellen Price told commissioners suspending the ICE contract would be complex and would require negotiating with law-enforcement partners and addressing public opinion; she cited national polling changes on immigration attitudes. Dr. Linda Snow Griffin and other speakers pointed to examples from other counties where controversy over ICE contracts produced political consequences.
Anne Janssen asked the commission to "pause" before accepting what she described as as much as $20 million into the general fund next year from ICE-related activity, calling the money "blood money." Linda Spurrier asked for local details about detainees on the recent list of 23 names — how long they had lived in the U.S., whether they have family members who are citizens, who cares for their children and whether detainees have access to legal representation. Beverly Wetter asked whether the jail’s inmate orientation video and handbook could be made available to the public so residents can better understand jail procedures.
No formal motion to change or suspend the ICE contract was introduced during the public comment period at this meeting; commissioners heard the comments and continued with the agenda.