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Residents urge commissioners to oppose ICE detention facilities and seek disclosure on alleged ICE-related funding
Summary
Multiple residents urged the board to oppose ICE detention facilities in Butler County, asked for more citizen representation on the Criminal Justice Board, and requested financial disclosure after a leaked budget listing $1,045,000 for ICE-related projects that reportedly includes incentives for housing unaccompanied minors.
Several residents used the public-comment period to press the Butler County Board of Commissioners on immigration and county cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Anne Brown of Hamilton told the board, “we do not want an ICE detention facility in Butler County, let alone 3,” and said ICE practices have caused fear, family separations and, in her view, insufficient training among agents. Brown asked the county to change qualifications for the Butler County Criminal Justice Board so that more citizens can serve and provide public input.
Susie Lute of Oxford thanked the board for education partnerships and raised concerns about a leaked budget she said listed Butler County among jurisdictions receiving funds for ICE cooperation. Lute said the document shows “the total amount is $1,045,000” and that “75% of this money, is an incentive for locating and or housing unaccompanied minors,” and she asked how to obtain financial disclosure about those funds.
Speakers urged transparency and broader citizen participation on oversight boards. The chair responded that the county can only act on its contracts and that mediation has limits when a contract is in place; staff said the city and county representatives will appear at future meetings to answer some questions but did not provide additional financial detail during the public-comment period.
No formal board action on ICE-related contracts or Criminal Justice Board qualifications was taken at this meeting.
