A routine hearing for stakeholders about the partnership between the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) drew strong community interest on Wednesday. The training room was full, with people expressing fear and confusion over recent immigration raids in the U. S.
Concerns arose after a public notice for the annual 287(g) meeting was posted at the jail. This program, started by former sheriff Tim Burkhalter in 2018, requires jail staff to notify ICE when processing undocumented individuals. ICE program manager Michael Martin clarified that deputies do not conduct raids, traffic stops, or deportation actions.
Every three years, the meeting is held to improve oversight, address concerns, and promote transparency. In 2023, there were 91 encounters with detainees, with 14 identified as convicted criminals, and in 2024, there were 93 encounters with 10 identified criminals.
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