Des Moines, Iowa (AP) — Sheriffs in Iowa caution that the President’s county may refrain from publicly criticizing the Trump administration for inadequate backing of his presidential Immigration Agenda, stating he is “more than happy” to assist. His primary concern is to ensure adequate officers, prison beds, and funding to meet county demands.
Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy, responsible for approximately 100,000 residents near Wisconsin and Illinois, aimed to avoid alienating the federal government by opting out of a program that would allocate county resources and prison capacity to immigration enforcement. He detailed his reasoning in a packed county chamber of commerce meeting this week, drawing varied responses.
President Donald Trump directed last month via executive order that a list be made public of state and local jurisdictions that hinder the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Sanctuary is commonly understood as entities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, yet Trump did not specify the criteria.
Documentations shared during the county meeting revealed that Jonathan Thompson, executive director and CEO of the National Sheriff’s Association, communicated the directive to members, including Kennedy, on May 2nd. Thompson indicated that the list could be released ahead of Trump’s May 28 deadline and urged interested parties to act swiftly in training officials to effectively enforce immigration laws.
Since Trump took office, the number of state and local agencies participating in enforcing federal immigration laws has surged to 588 across 40 states, with 83 applications still under consideration as of May 19. Enforcement of immigration laws is fundamentally a federal responsibility.
Kennedy received a call from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March, suggesting that it was not “appropriate” to reference the 287(g) contract, which pertains to a clause in the 1996 Act permitting state and local law enforcement to arrest immigrants. He emphasized that his decision was driven by financial resources and prison availability, rather than political motives.
“Typically, when partnering with larger entities (federal, state), those agencies tend to take more than they provide. More often than not, we find ourselves on the losing end of the deal,” he stated.
Kennedy expressed willingness to aid federal agents in the locality but requested ICE refrain from utilizing a 181-bed prison due to limited space.
David Bindard, a Cedar Rapids resident, showed understanding toward his straightforward perspective: “No worries, I fully comprehend.”
During Monday’s County Board of Supervisors meeting, some constituents supported Democrat Kennedy; others urged for increased collaboration with immigration authorities. A Republican supervisor suggested that a 287(g) contract could be financially burdensome for the county, yet is vital for public safety.
Kennedy informed residents that his office maintains a partnership with ICE and that a “binding agreement” could jeopardize other law enforcement initiatives.
“Partnering with the federal government can turn your employees into federal employees,” he warned.
Iowa law prohibits local and state officials from implementing policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Recently, Attorney General Brenna Byrd filed a lawsuit. A sheriff in Winneshiek County commented on Facebook, noting potential discouragement of cooperation and endangerment of federal funding for the county.
The Trump administration also has initiated legal action against governments such as Denver, Chicago, and Rochester, New York, for policies that limit immigrant arrests.
Thompson, representing over 3,000 sheriffs at the time of Trump’s April 28 order, stated that the President has made it clear that he will seek assistance “from every corner” regarding immigration law enforcement.
However, Thompson emphasized that each sheriff must make choices aligned with their community’s needs. Some sheriffs lack the financial resources or prison capacity to sacrifice other responsibilities.
“All sheriffs need another mission like they need a hole in their heads,” he commented.
At present, only one institution in Iowa is enrolled in the 287(g) program, which is the State Safety Bureau. No other institutions have been identified as having an active or pending agreement. Florida leads with 255 participating entities.
ICE did not respond to an AP inquiry regarding whether agencies declining the 287(g) contract would appear on the government’s sanctuary list.
Thompson mentioned he was unaware of that detail.
“What I am aiming to do is advise our members,” he stated. “There are challenges, opportunities, and risks involved.”
Source: apnews.com