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County official briefs commissioners on daily ICE transports, detainers after multi-person stabbing
Summary
Sheriff/official Al Neehan told commissioners that recent operations included multiple arrests tied to a stabbing near I‑75, that Hernando serves as the transport hub for ICE in the region, and that the county expects limited reimbursement for transport work.
Al Neehan briefed the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 about recent immigration‑related enforcement and jail operations following a multi‑person stabbing near I‑75.
Neehan said sheriff's investigators encountered nine individuals believed to be in the country without authorization and that one person was critically injured in a stabbing “by a broken salsa bottle.” He described routine coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): “By 3:00 in the afternoon we have to send an email of the number of people that we have in our particular jail… and then ICE formulates that, decides if they want those individuals picked up,” and if ICE issues detainers the county transports detainees to the ICE office in Tampa.
Neehan told commissioners ICE recently provided lists of suspected individuals and that the county has three people for whom ICE issued warrants or detainers. He also said some local jails statewide have cross‑deputization agreements allowing detention pending ICE action and that Hernando County often conducts the transports for its region. “So usually every day… we take one of our detention deputies that is cross sworn with ICE and… transport those individuals… down to the ICE office in Tampa,” he said.
The sheriff’s office is expecting reimbursements from ICE for field operations and transports, though staff cautioned the timing — and end of the sheriff’s office budget year — may limit the practical benefit of any incoming funds. Commissioners asked for clarification on logistics and reimbursement timing; Neehan said he would update the board if staff signatures or other county authorizations were needed.
The briefing was informational; commissioners did not take formal action on federal immigration policy during the meeting.
