Coffee County commissioners formally back sheriff’s memorandum with ICE

Sheriff Tom Thompson told the Coffee County Board of County Commissioners on April 27 that a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would let trained county jail personnel serve ICE detainers after local criminal processing. Thompson said the county has cooperated with ICE for years but the MOA clarifies roles and requires online training for nominated personnel.

Thompson described the routine scenario the MOA covers: an officer arrests a person on local charges, jail staff discover an ICE detainer when the arrestee is booked, the county completes criminal processing, and ICE is notified to take custody if it can respond within 48 hours. If ICE does not respond, the sheriff said, the county releases the person after local charges are resolved.

Thompson said recent state legislation and guidance from the Kansas Attorney General’s office reduce the legal exposure that previously discouraged formal MOAs. He told commissioners the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association had recommended each sheriff ask their commission to record official support. Thompson asked the board to approve a motion that the county support the agreement and allow the sheriff to be a signatory.

Commissioners discussed wording to make the board’s support explicit and to note that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a component of the Department of Homeland Security. Commissioner Parker moved and Commissioner McCur seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to support the MOA and to allow the sheriff to sign the memorandum; the motion passed 5-0.

No amendments to the MOA were made during the meeting. County counsel noted the formal record will show the board’s support and that the MOA’s operational details (training roster, notification procedures) remain part of the sheriff’s office implementation plan.

The county’s recorded action was a supportive resolution; no change to county policy or local ordinance was adopted at the meeting. The sheriff said he will return any implementation documents to the board if they require further county action.