Residents urge Rutherford County to end 287(g) agreement during public comment

Several residents used the public‑comment period at the Oct. 16 commission meeting to press Rutherford County leaders to withdraw from the 287(g) immigration agreement.

Pamela Jones opened the comments by drawing historical parallels and accused Sheriff Fitzhugh of misleading the public about the agreement: "It's been reiterated how the 287gs agreement will cost the city, how we were shamelessly lied to by Sheriff Fitzhugh about said agreement even existing," she said. Jones urged commissioners to "prove these accusations wrong" by terminating the agreement.

Violet Walter, an infant teacher from District 2, said families are being separated and told the sheriff to "end the agreement with ICE and withdraw from 287(g) now." Alex Sager described the program as "corrupt" and racially targeted and said continuing the agreement makes the county complicit. Jeffrey Wagner reinforced that 287(g) participation is voluntary and urged commissioners to reconsider the county’s involvement.

No member of the sheriff’s office or other county official provided a direct response to the speakers during the public‑comment period recorded in the meeting. Commissioners did not vote on the 287(g) issue at the Oct. 16 session; public comments were followed by the comptroller presentation and subsequent agenda items.

Community context: speakers framed their appeals around family separation, civil‑rights concerns and the voluntary nature of 287(g). The commissioners did not announce any immediate administrative action on the agreement during the meeting.