Residents press for transparency on immigration enforcement; sheriff says 287(g) applies after arrest

Residents pressed the Sumner County Health & Emergency Services Committee on March 2 for more transparency about local immigration enforcement and the county's relationship with federal authorities.

Hendersonville resident Mandy Cook asked that the sheriff's report include data on the county's 287(g) agreement, and Trae and Sam Primrose urged greater openness about any partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to public-comment remarks recorded by the committee. John Wallace and Jean Myers spoke against arrests of undocumented immigrants.

The issue drew an operational response from Sheriff Eric Craddock. "No changes have occurred since the county entered the program; it continues to operate under the Warrant Service Officer model," Craddock said. He explained that "for the 287(g) program to apply, an individual must first be arrested for a crime and brought to jail. At that time, fingerprints are taken and processed. If federal authorities issue an administrative warrant, the Sheriff's Office will cooperate accordingly."

The committee did not take formal action on 287(g) or immigration policy during the meeting. The transcript shows residents requested that future sheriff's reports include more information about the 287(g) agreement and any ICE cooperation; Sheriff Craddock provided a procedural description but did not announce changes to policy or reporting requirements.

What happens next: the committee record does not show a motion or vote on changes to reporting. Public requests for additional data were recorded as part of the meeting's recognition of the public.