Residents push Sumner County committee to end 287(g) contract, demand sheriff's office transparency

At the April 6 meeting of the Sumner County Health and Emergency Services Committee, residents urged the county to end its 287(g) contract with federal immigration authorities and demanded more transparency from the sheriff's office.

Trey Primrose, who said he lives at 432 Triple Crown Circle in Gallatin, told the committee his group had filed a petition signed by 553 Sumner County residents urging dissolution of the county's 287(g) contract and asking for "accountability and transparency from the sheriff's office regarding this topic." He said he had emailed copies of the petition to Mayor Isbell, Sheriff Craddock, Chairman Rogers and Vice Chair Wright and requested that next month's sheriff report include discussion of the 287(g) contract.

Jessica Newport (1008 North Irish Circle) described her family's immigrant history and asked officials to treat immigrant residents with concern and transparency, saying that when a person is detained "please be transparent so that we can communicate back to families." Brooklyn White (933 Sunset Drive) cited what she said was a Secretary of State figure of nearly 700 detentions in Sumner County last year and asked for more detail about who was detained and under what circumstances.

Committee members noted Sheriff Craddock was not in attendance. A committee member explained historical practices for ICE holds at the jail and said cooperation with federal authorities is not new in the county, but acknowledged heightened public attention to the issue. When asked whether the county or committee could act, a member said the county is "operating in compliance with the federal program" and that the sheriff, as an elected official, "runs his elected department" within the parameters of the federal agreement unless there is evidence of wrongdoing.

The meeting record shows no formal action was taken on the petition; public commenters asked the committee to request a fuller sheriff's report on 287(g) when it is next available. The committee closed public comment and moved on to regular agenda items.