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Residents tell Benton County to end participation in 287(g) jail-enforcement model
Summary
Two residents urged Benton County commissioners during public comment to stop the county's participation in the 287(g) jail-enforcement model, saying it causes fear, racial profiling and undermines trust in local law enforcement.
Amelie White, a resident and candidate for district 2, told Benton County commissioners she opposed the county's involvement in the 287(g) jail-enforcement model and urged officials to "listen and actively look at what this involvement is doing to your neighbors." White said people in her community live in daily fear of law enforcement and described traffic stops that she said turned into detentions tied to immigration status.
"Brown and black people in our community are living in real fear of being harassed and detained by Benton County officers because of our excessive involvement in federal immigration practices," White said during the public-comment period. She asked the court to meet with affected community members and consider switching to a less intrusive enforcement model.
Michael Maine, who identified himself as a concerned citizen, echoed White's testimony and urged the county to shift to a warrant-service-officer model rather than the jail-based approach. "ICE is out of control," Maine said, adding that he had observed operations he described as "race-based dragnet operations" in neighboring jurisdictions and that many immigrants arrested under such operations lacked criminal records.
Neither White nor Maine called for a particular legal remedy during the comments, and commissioners did not take immediate action on 287(g) at the meeting. After public comment closed, the court proceeded with other agenda items including a presentation and discussion about a scenic-corridor ordinance and routine grant and appropriation votes.
Why it matters: Residents' complaints highlight concerns about public-safety responses that community members say deter 911 calls, undermine trust and have potential civil‑rights implications. The speakers asked county officials to review local participation in federal immigration-enforcement initiatives and to hold further outreach to affected residents.
What happens next: The commission closed public comment and moved on to other business. The transcript does not show a formal board directive or vote on county participation in 287(g) during this meeting.
