Image Credit: ICE / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
A recent data report shows that 2.7% of ICE-related arrests over the last 5 months have taken place in Tennessee.
According to the Deportation Data Project’s most recent arrests report, that number accounts for approximately 3,000 illegal individuals arrested within the state by immigration enforcement.
This number puts Tennessee in the top 10 for states with the most ICE-related arrests. Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Virginia all have similar arrest numbers.
In first place? The border-state of Texas, coming in at 23% of ICE-related arrests in the last 5 months or approximately 25,000 individuals.
Arizona, California and Florida were all close behind in the top 5.
The Deportation Data Project is an online publication that consolidates datasets related to U.S. immigration. Their information is largely accumulated through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
Tennessee continues to see local law enforcement step up and agree to cooperate directly with ICE through the 287(g) program which allows local law enforcement to identify arrested individuals who do not have U.S. citizenship in an effort to assist ICE.
There are three different 287(g) models that local and state law enforcement agencies can operate under:
Warrant Service Officer Model (WSO) – local officials are able to serve illegal immigrants already in jail with civil immigration warrants.
Task Force Model (TFM) – acts as a “force multiplier” by combining state and local law enforcement efforts and allowing officers to enforce limited immigration authority during routine police enforcement duties.
Jail Enforcement Model (JEM) – jail and prison workers can identify and process individuals with criminal or pending criminal charges who have been arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies and lack U.S. citizenship.
Currently there are 20 Tennessee actively participating in the 287(g) program:
Bradley County: jail enforcement model
Coffee County: warrant service officer
Cumberland County: warrant service officer
Dyer County: warrant service officer
Franklin County: jail enforcement model
Giles County: warrant service officer
Grainger County: warrant service officer
Greene County: jail enforcement model
Grundy County: warrant service officer
Hamilton County: jail enforcement model
Haywood County: warrant service officer
Knox County: jail enforcement model
Macon County: warrant service officer
Madison County: warrant service officer
McMinn County: warrant service officer
Morgan County: jail enforcement model
Putnam County: jail enforcement model and task force model
Robertson County: warrant service officer
Sullivan County: warrant service officer
Sumner County: warrant service officer
Due to such a high level of local law enforcement participation and immigration legislation passed by the state legislature this year, Tennessee will likely see continued success in regard to ICE efforts over the coming months.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
