More public officials are breaking ties with ICE, as immigrants’ rights advocates double down on their case that local governments should avoid immigration enforcement regardless of Biden’s new policies.
Voters in populous Georgia and South Carolina counties elected sheriffs who ran on ending contracts with ICE.
Jail deaths and ICE cooperation have defined the first term of Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, who faces a tough challenge in next month’s election.
Eliseo Santana, running for sheriff in Florida’s Pinellas County, wants to end collaboration with ICE, reduce arrests, and shift some funds toward health services.
In Gwinnett and Cobb counties, sheriff candidates are promising to roll back cooperation with ICE. Advocates say they should cut ties completely, while the federal agency threatens retaliation.
When people are arrested and booked into a local jail, they often end up on ICE’s radar. Sheriffs are a major reason why.
Gurbir Grewal terminated existing 287(g) contracts. But immigrants will continue to be treated differently.
A new Colorado law curbs ICE’s reach, but it was weakened during the legislative process and stripped of its prohibition against ICE contracts.
Sheriff Patrick Russo faces no challengers. But the state legislature could act to restrict local cooperation with the federal agency.
A proposed bill would restrict the Colorado sheriffs’ ability to detain people for ICE and enter deals with the agency.
“We don’t believe local government and local communities should be making money by causing harm to other community members,” said one advocate.
Two large North Carolina counties quit ICE’s 287(g) program this month.
3 Maryland counties are in ICE’s 287(g) program. How many after November?
Wake County sheriff race struggles for media visibility, with 287(g) at stake