ICE issues detainer for illegal immigrant at Barnstable County Correctional Facility

April 1, 2016

BOURNE – The Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office reports that today the Office received a detainer from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency for an illegal immigrant serving a nine-month sentence at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility (BCCF) for assault and battery on a police officer and possession with intent to distribute a class A drug (heroin).

Today’s media releases states that at a press conference last August, Barnstable County Sheriff James Cummings called for greater assistance from ICE regarding the detention of individuals who are in the United States illegally and who are also being held on serious state criminal changes.

“Every day, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency asks local Sheriffs to ‘detain’ inmates in the Sheriff’s custody, yet ICE fails to provide justification and the legal authority to do so. Without the appropriate legal authority to detain someone, Sheriffs risk enormous legal liability. The failure to detain a suspected dangerous felon (who is also illegally in the Country) creates a real risk to the local community.”

The media release further states that in August, Sheriff Cummings directed his command staff to contact ICE specifically with detailed and individualized concerns and background regarding each and every person the Sheriff’s Office believes is in the country illegally and being held at the BCCF on state criminal charges.

“The value of receiving this ICE detainer is clear,” said Sheriff Cummings. “Instead of being released to the streets of Cape Cod, a felon who was dealing drugs and assaulted a police officer is now in the custody of federal Immigration officials and subject to expedited deportation.”

According to the media release, the Sheriff credited the case’s successful result to his security and records staff, working in cooperation with local ICE agents.

http://www.capecod.com/cape-wide-new...onal-facility/