Washington County Latest To Enter 287(g) Program To Partner With ICE

Image Credit: Washington County Sheriff’s Office – TN / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

The Washington County Commission unanimously passed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enter the federal 287(g) program in partnership with ICE to hasten the deportation process for illegal aliens convicted of crimes in the county.

According to the resolution, the MOA would allow the Washington County Sheriff’s office to transfer inmates who are illegal aliens from local jails/correctional facilities to ICE custody for removal purposes upon their release from criminal custody. 

This prong of the 287(g) program, known as the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM), is designed to allow certified officers to identify and process removable aliens in jails/correction facilities, place an immigration detainer and initiate removal proceedings, then ensure seamless custodial transfer to ICE upon release.

The JEM model minimizes the risk of an alien absconding or reoffending by preventing them from being returned to the community or public life but instead turned over to ICE for deportation once they’ve served their sentences. 

“It’s minimal investment, maximum impact,” said Sheriff Keith Sexton. “No need for dedicated staff or facilities.” He stated the county currently arrests 15-20 illegal aliens per month. 

He clarified that officers will not be “out hunting people down” and that the Sheriff’s Office has always worked well with all federal agencies, including ICE. “This will just get people who need to be out of our jail, it will get them out of there faster,” he explained.

County Mayor Joe Grandy also championed the MOA, stating the reimbursement from the federal program could significantly help with the financial burdens placed on the local agency. Without an ICE partnership expediting the process or helping cover expenses, local agencies must bear the full costs of keeping illegals in custody while awaiting a detainer, which can take time to procure, and eventual pickup by ICE.

“A criminal who’s incarcerated in our detention center costs about $80 a day. So, if you look at the numbers that they potentially take care of, that may be as much as half a million dollars a year,” Grandy said. 

He further expressed his belief that entering the program would be a boon for public safety efforts, saying, “It gives the sheriff and his department the opportunity to cooperate with the Trump administration and moving forward, make our county and our country safer.” 

With the MOA passed, the Sheriff’s Office will now screen and nominate candidates for ICE approval and training. Once trained, the deputies will then take a special exam, and those who pass with at least 70 percent will become “certified” and authorized by ICE to perform the MOA’s specified immigration duties- identifying and transferring illegal immigrants being released from the Sheriff’s Office custody to ICE.

Washington County is the latest Tennessee county to join immigration efforts through one of the three 287(g) models, hot on the heels of Sevier County, which made their announcement last week.

With the addition of these two agencies, Tennessee will have 22 counties participating in the program.

Recent data shows that detainer requests from ICE asking local law enforcement agencies to alert the federal department and hold a suspect in custody have increase over 86% in Tennessee since last year, aligning with other recent reports exposing the state to have the second highest number of illegal alien arrests in the nation per capita, only behind Texas. 

The uptick in detainer requests could potentially be the result of more counties joining the 287(g) program as ICE finds local law enforcement agencies willing to cooperate with its mass deportation efforts.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.