Commissioner asks for full accounting of county’s ICE contract after public reports

Commissioner Thompson used her board comments to request a comprehensive accounting of Alamance County’s ICE contract following media coverage of the contract’s termination. She asked for contract amounts, annual payments, what the sheriff’s office earned from the arrangement and how any departmental profits were spent.

"I had requested and have been requesting ... a thorough presentation about our ICE contract," Thompson said, asking staff to compile records and consider an audit or formal review. She said conflicting reports on social media and news outlets have created public confusion and that transparency was needed so the county and public understand what the contract paid and what equipment or services were purchased with those funds.

County staff and the manager did not provide immediate detail at the meeting; Thompson said she had previously communicated with sheriff’s staff and federal ICE representatives and reiterated her request for documentation. The manager told commissioners that requested records and presentations could be provided at a subsequent meeting.

The comment concluded with Thompson asking for information about the jail annex and whether planned upgrades tied to the contract would be affected by the termination; she asked staff to follow up with specifics.