Ohio sheriff says local partnerships with feds on immigration 'starting to ramp up'

Key Concepts

287(g) Program: An agreement between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies, allowing local officers to perform immigration enforcement functions.
ICE Detainees: Individuals held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often pending deportation or transfer.
Racial Profiling: The discriminatory practice of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on their race or ethnicity.
Financial Incentive: The potential for a financial gain that might influence decision-making.

287(g) Program and Increased Deportation Efforts

The Trump administration has intensified nationwide deportation efforts, with ICE increasingly utilizing the 287(g) program. This program, in existence for nearly 30 years, allows sheriff's offices to detain undocumented immigrants in local jails before deportation or transfer. In some instances, local officers are trained to participate directly in ICE operations. Since January, the number of these agreements has seen a significant surge of over 640 percent.

Butler County, Ohio: A Case Study

Butler County, Ohio, under Sheriff Richard Jones, reinstated its partnership with the federal government upon President Trump's return to office. The county has since housed approximately 2,000 ICE detainees in its jails.

Sheriff Jones' Perspective on Immigration Enforcement

Sheriff Richard Jones has engaged with immigration enforcement partnerships across five presidencies. He contrasts the current administration's approach with previous ones:

Biden Administration: Jones states that under President Biden, there was "hardly nothing" in terms of immigration enforcement.
Obama Administration: He asserts that the most deportations his office conducted occurred under President Obama, who served for eight years. Jones claims Obama deported "far more than Trump has in roughly five years."
Trump Administration: Jones believes President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise to initiate these programs and increase deportations. He notes that approximately 78 percent of Americans, regardless of political affiliation or race, wanted the border sealed and action on deportation during the last election.

Misunderstandings of Obama-Era Deportations

Sheriff Jones suggests that public perception of Obama-era deportations is often inaccurate, viewing it as a past issue. He attributes this to differing news sources and group affiliations. He emphasizes his 22 years of experience in deportation and combating illegal immigration, stating he has "actually been there" and witnessed the volume of deportations under Obama.

Addressing Concerns of Racial Profiling

Critics argue that the 287(g) program can lead to racial profiling, particularly in traffic stops and street-level enforcement. Sheriff Jones addresses these concerns:

Safeguards: He claims his department has been conducting enforcement "since the beginning of time" and stops individuals of all races and religions, regardless of their vehicles. Enforcement is based on committing crimes, such as drunk driving, similar to "homegrown criminals," and not on color or religion.
Monitoring and Review: Jones states that his department monitors all stops and reviews reports, a practice they have maintained for 22 years, even before widespread camera use. He believes he could not convince "naysayers" even with extensive explanations.

Impact on Local Jails and Financial Implications

The partnership with ICE has had a significant impact on Butler County's jail operations and finances:

Housing ICE Detainees: On an average day, the jail houses between 300 and 360 ICE detainees, with numbers fluctuating and having reached as high as 430 or close to 500 at times, depending on ICE's operations.
Space for Local Inmates: The presence of ICE detainees affects the space available for local inmates.
Federal Contracts and Revenue: Federal contracts through the 287(g) program have generated over $200 million in the past 20 years, with projections to reach a quarter-billion dollars by 2027. The county anticipates bringing in $22 million next year, with $12 million expected this year as the program ramps up.
Financial Incentive: When questioned about a potential financial incentive to keep beds full of ICE detainees, Sheriff Jones acknowledged that the county does not house prisoners for free. He stated that other counties must pay the "going price" to house their detainees, and this revenue helps "cover the freight of our local prisoners." He clarified, "So, no, it's -- it is what it is."

ICE Tactics and Public Safety

Regarding ICE's apprehension tactics, which some view as aggressive or brutal, Sheriff Jones offers his perspective:

Illegality of Presence: He believes that individuals who have "snuck into the country" and are "here illegally" should "go home." He mentions that ICE offers options for voluntary return, sometimes with financial assistance.
Presidential Promise: Jones reiterates that President Trump ran on the premise of addressing illegal immigration and is keeping his promise.
Protests: He notes that protests against these policies, even with hundreds of participants chaining themselves to the jail door, have "absolutely nothing" impact.
Support for ICE: Sheriff Jones "agree[s] with way they're doing it, and it's going to continue to ramp up." He expresses his support for ICE "110 percent."

Conclusion

Sheriff Richard Jones of Butler County, Ohio, defends the 287(g) program and increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. He argues that his department does not engage in racial profiling and that enforcement is based on criminal activity. Jones highlights the significant financial benefits the county receives from housing ICE detainees, which helps offset the costs of local incarceration. He firmly supports ICE's tactics and believes the current approach is necessary to address illegal immigration, contrasting it with what he perceives as less effective enforcement under previous administrations, particularly the Obama era.