Thursday, February 13, 2025–8:20 a.m.
-Floyd County Sheriff’s Office-
On Wednesday, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office hosted a public meeting to discuss the jail-based 287(g) program, which is in collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to the Sheriff’s Office:
The partnership with ICE and the 287(g) program has been in place since 2018. The meeting generated significant interest from the community and provided an opportunity to address various misconceptions and concerns regarding the program within the Rome and Floyd County area.
The sheriff’s office encourages everyone to share this important information to help clear up misunderstandings and ensure the public is well-informed.
The 287(g) program specifically focuses individuals who have been arrested for a crime, ranging from traffic violations to violent offenses, and who are not U.S. citizens. It is a jail-based initiative that can only be implemented through formal agreements with law enforcement agencies that are responsible for housing inmates. During the booking process, if an individual is identified as being in the country illegally, ICE may place a hold on them, allowing up to 72 hours for ICE to take custody and transport the individual to an ICE facility for further processing.
It is important to note that this agreement does NOT grant the following powers or actions:
• Deputies or any member of the Sheriff’s Office are NOT authorized to question individuals about their immigration status during routine public interactions.
• The program does NOT allow for the arrest of individuals solely based on suspicion of being in the country illegally.
• The program does NOT permit the use of roadblocks or home inspections to verify immigration status.
• The 287(g) agreement holds no authority outside of arrests made within the jurisdiction of Floyd County.
The sheriff’s office has also engaged in discussions with our fellow law enforcement agencies in Floyd County, including the Rome Police Department and the Floyd County Police Department, to address the concerns raised regarding immigration enforcement. They want to assure the public that none of these agencies are conducting operations to enter homes, schools, businesses, or other private locations to search for individuals who may be in the country illegally. Additionally, no Floyd County law enforcement agency is conducting roadblocks or checks to verify immigration status.
If you believe you have been subject to racial profiling or any inappropriate actions by a member of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, you are strongly encouraged you to file a report. All claims will be thoroughly investigated. To submit a report, please visit https://www.floydsheriffga.gov/contact-us.
The sheriff’s office is committed to maintaining transparency and serving our community with the utmost integrity. Since Governor Kemp signed HB 1105 into law, Sheriffs in Georgia are now mandated to collaborate with federal immigration authorities when an individual in custody is suspected of being in the country illegally. As the office is already engaged in the 287(g) program, we are fully compliant with the new legal requirements. This ensures that they are proactively adhering to the federal standards now set for all law enforcement agencies in the state.
