Madison Co. Sheriff's Office assists ICE in 6 arrests coinciding with crackdown
Madison Co. Sheriff's Office assists ICE in arrests coinciding with immigration crackdown
Cassandra Stephenson, Jackson Sun
Published 2:16 p.m. CT July 15, 2019
Six people were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Jackson Friday, coinciding with a nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) stated in a news release Sunday that "initial reports indicate that those arrested were stopped in their vehicles by officers from the Sheriff's department near a predominantly Latinx neighborhood, then turned over to waiting federal immigration agents."
Madison County Sheriff John Mehr said the area was not specifically targeted.
These arrests occurred the same day President Donald Trump announced ICE raids in selected American cities.
The Jackson and Madison County area were not among 10 cities eventually identified as targeted areas by immigration reform advocates.
The Southern Christian Coalition released a statement Monday condemning the Jackson arrests.
"These raids inflict great stress and harm on our immigrant brothers and sisters and traumatize children," SCC State Director Lenda Sherrell stated in the release.
"Immigrant children are our children. Their families are our families. We, as Christians and faith leaders, are called to love and to care for all families."
Sheriff: ICE didn't initiate arrests
Madison County Sheriff John Mehr said the arrests were not initiated by ICE.
An MCSO news release states deputies were conducting routine "pro-active patrols" and "came across six individuals who were here illegally."
Deputies then contacted ICE agents, who took the individuals into custody and transported them to federal holding facilities, according to MCSO.
The department's "pro-active patrols" take place in a variety of areas throughout Madison County, according to Mehr.
"We work in one area one week and another area another week," he said.
It is not immediately clear why the individuals were stopped and Mehr said he would have to review the report to determine the details of the incident.
Mehr said it's common practice for MCSO to cooperate with the federal agency, and they work together "every couple of months."
"[Deputies] stopped them and we didn't charge them with other cases," Mehr said, referencing the costs of incarcerating alleged offenders in the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex. "We weren't going to carry them in our jail. That's why we called and ICE took them."
ICE was in the Jackson area targeting an alleged criminal undocumented immigrant pursuing an order of final removal at the time of the arrests, ICE Southern Region Communications Director Bryan Cox wrote in an email.
"In the course of locating the target we also encountered other unlawfully present foreign nationals at the location who were also taken into custody," Cox wrote.
MCSO's press release noted that "it was discovered that some of these individuals had multiple deportations in the past."
As to the arrests coincidence with Trump's announcement of planned raids, Cox stated that ICE "makes targeted arrests on a daily basis in accordance with our ongoing, every day activity."
"The decision by local authorities to help ICE carry out these arrests during this weekend of heightened fears was irresponsible and reckless," TIRRC stated in its release. "The arrests will further erode trust in local institutions and have lasting damage on the health and safety of the entire community."
https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/new...co/1735949001/
