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Commission approves applying for federally supplied transport van; policy on immigration detainers unchanged
Summary
The commission agreed to pursue a non-matching federal grant to acquire an outfitted transport van that would be county property and could support prisoner and detainee transport; officials said the county's existing ICE-detainer process would not change.
Sheriff Mullins told the Finance Committee that the county can apply for a non-matching federal grant that would provide an outfitted transport van (estimated $80,000'$100,000) and reimburse overtime when deputies are called in for transports. "They're going to pay overtime if we have to call anybody in to transport to Knoxville... and that van is at liberty for us to use how we want it," the sheriff said.
County officials clarified the program does not change current procedures for immigration holds. When an undocumented arrestee is identified, the jail notifies immigration and the agency decides whether to place a detainer; the county said that process would remain the same if it accepts the van. Commissioners asked whether the van becomes county property; staff confirmed the vehicle would remain with the county after acquisition.
The committee moved and approved the request to add the grant to the calendar and to pursue the application. Officials said if the grant is awarded the county would determine how to staff and maintain the vehicle and how to coordinate reimbursements for covered transports.
