Sheriff Tanner defends application to join 287(g) task force as residents warn of profiling and family harm

Sheriff Tanner defended an application to join the federal 287(g) task-force model at a public Q&A convened by the county council, saying the program would give his office access to national intelligence systems that help identify suspects and build cases.

"It is not happening here," Tanner said of the aggressive enforcement practices shown in national media, adding that the program would be used as a tool for investigations rather than to deport people: "The 287(g) program is a small entry into a door of a lot of knowledge that's important for this community to remain safe." (Sheriff Tanner)

The sheriff described past local participation from 2008 to 2012 and said modern intelligence-sharing tools—he named NCIC, IDENT and what he called the EAGLE system—would allow his office to query information about people they suspect of criminal activity. Tanner said ICE provides training and technology and that his proposal would likely require only one fully trained deputy embedded for the intelligence work.

Community members, lawyers and advocates disputed Tanner's assurances and raised a series of practical and moral concerns. Dulce Lopez of the ACLU of South Carolina warned of a "pattern of racial profiling" and constitutional violations tied to the task-force model; Lopez said national experience shows the most aggressive 287(g) formats have produced civil-rights problems.

Immigration attorney Amy Devrell described a Beaufort County client who found bullets in a car and "was afraid to call the police because of everything that is happening with immigrants," and she urged Tanner to withdraw the application: "ICE just got a 350% budget increase last week. They have plenty of help. They don't need your help." (Amy Devrell)

Residents recounted local examples and worst-case scenarios. One attendee described a case that began with a traffic stop and resulted in an ICE detainer and transfer to a detention center in Texas, leading to canceled bond hearings and complex legal work. Speakers said those outcomes erode trust and deter victims and witnesses from reporting crimes.

On costs, participants cited a claim that Charleston County spent $4,000,000 annually under a similar agreement. Tanner responded that "directly, nothing" would be charged to the county by ICE but acknowledged indirect costs: "a deputy starting salary is $60,000, a vehicle, and all the issued equipment, a $125,000." He said county council had not approved any funding specifically to join the program but that training and technology come from ICE.

Attendees also pressed Tanner on operational questions: whether ICE would "push" information to the county and whether federal agents could act without identification. Tanner said the IDENT/EAGLE systems are two-way and that law-enforcement agents and other countries can add data; he said his office would verify any federal agents' credentials and would not "get in their way" if federal officers lawfully enforced federal law.

Several speakers argued the decision should involve broader public oversight rather than rest solely with the sheriff. Shawnee Boyd urged that "something so significant as this should be made as a public decision" and not left to individual discretion; Tanner replied he receives both supportive and opposing emails and that the choice is his as an elected official.

The meeting ended without a formal vote. Tanner said his priority is community safety and repeated that he intends to use intelligence tools to identify people committing crimes rather than to conduct broad immigration sweeps. He thanked attendees and closed the session as deputies prepared to use the training room.

What happens next: Tanner said the application process is under way but not finalized; he encouraged residents to submit information by email and said further public input could be part of the process.