Residents urge Rutherford County to end 287(g) agreements during heated public comment

A sustained series of public comments at the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 12 pressed the board to end local participation in 287(g) agreements with federal immigration authorities.

Speakers described personal fear and alleged harms caused by immigration enforcement. Carson Bolin, a resident who said he lives in District 21, urged the commission to "cancel 287g, and I want ICE out of our community," arguing the county should not facilitate deportations. Several other speakers echoed that call; one said, simply, "End 287G." Amanda Hernandez recounted accompanying a woman to an ICE check-in in Nashville and described the woman's fear. Another speaker referenced recent deaths in ICE custody and cited polling and studies to argue local participation invites costly lawsuits.

Multiple speakers asked for explicit statements from commissioners about their positions. Alex Sager asked elected officials to "release some sort of public statement on where they stand with regards to ICE and ICE operations over these past months." Jacob Jones and others warned that local cooperation with ICE erodes trust in public safety and encourages community withdrawal from reporting crimes.

The commission's responses emphasized communication. Commissioner Peay encouraged speakers to sign up for the sheriff's police academy and to meet department personnel; he suggested tours and meetings could improve public understanding. Steering chair Craig Harris and other commissioners said they would make information available and noted opportunities for dialogue with the sheriff's office.

No formal vote to end county participation in 287(g) agreements was recorded during the meeting. Public comments also included calls for other actions, including a request that the commission remove a library board member accused of fiduciary violations; the board did not act on that request during the meeting.

Next steps: Residents said they will continue public pressure; several speakers urged voters to act in upcoming elections. Commissioners invited further engagement, including meetings and possible tours of county law enforcement facilities.