Residents debate Kenton County ties with ICE during Fiscal Court public comment

Dozens of residents urged Kenton County officials to take varied approaches to local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement during public comment at the Feb. 24 Fiscal Court meeting.

Gary Meyer, who identified himself as a concerned resident, said he supports the county's relationship with ICE because, he said, it helps ensure detained people are housed properly: "I encourage the Court to continue to maintain that relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement so that we can do what's best for people that are being detained and the community at large." He said maintaining an agreement helps avoid situations where a commercial facility might house people in "non-optimal conditions."

Other speakers urged more restraint. Fort Wright resident Greta Etenbaas urged the court not to expand 287(g)-style agreements and cited national detention figures: "There are 16,523 people with no criminal record housed and detained as of October of 2025," she said, and added that "our laws are not always just." Etenbaas asked officials to pursue "quiet and thoughtful solutions" and to avoid contributing to the detention of people held for civil immigration matters.

Muhammad Ahmed criticized what he described as simplistic framing by some opponents and urged reforms that avoid "militarization," while Michael Staverman recounted a Feb. 5 visit to the Kenton County Detention Center and said the jail was 49 individuals over capacity then, urging the court to exercise oversight to ensure standards of care. Randy Evans expressed cultural and security concerns during his remarks.

Commissioners acknowledged the range of viewpoints. Commissioner Joe Nienaber said he appreciated the dialogue and commended the jail's operations, noting that speakers on both sides had made intelligent points. The public-comment period did not produce a formal vote or policy change at the meeting.