EDITOR’S NOTE (5:20 p.m. April 8): The ACLU of Ohio updated its “ICE in Ohio” report to say Delaware County is “not housing ICE detainees at the time of publication.”
DELAWARE — The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to push back against claims from the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio about its cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The ACLU of Ohio recently updated its “ICE in Ohio” report to state that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office’s U.S. Marshals Service federal detainee jail and transport contract was “pending ICE rider removal.”
Delaware Source began looking into the issue after noticing the updated label, which raised questions about whether anything had changed in the sheriff’s contract with federal authorities.
The sheriff’s office said this is not the case.
“Sheriff Balzer respectfully declines the suggestion of the ACLU that he contact the Department of Justice to request an alteration of the contract,” said Tracy Whited, director of public information for the sheriff’s office.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will remain an authorized user of the sheriff’s office’s U.S. Marshals Service detainee contract, which has been in place since 2020.
The sheriff’s office plans to renew the contract next month, and will include ICE as an authorized user moving forward.
“I am disheartened by that response,” said Jocelyn Rosnick, chief policy and advocacy officer for the ACLU of Ohio, in a statement to Delaware Source after reviewing the sheriff’s response.
“I appreciate that Sheriff Balzer took the time to reply to the report and respond to concerned community members.”
The updated report — and Balzer’s decision on Wednesday — follow the sheriff’s April 2 letter in response to the ACLU report.
In the letter, Balzer said the nonprofit’s work was “accurate, but incomplete.”
Delaware Source previously reported on the sheriff’s response and outlined the details of the current and proposed contract.
Read the full story here:
Delaware County Sheriff responds to ACLU report on federal immigration contracts
Sheriff Balzer clarifies Delaware County’s federal detainee contract and says no ICE detainees held; learn more about potential changes.
ACLU of Ohio responds to Balzer
Rosnick reiterated that the ability for ICE to utilize Delaware County’s contract is not pending removal.
“I have spent a good amount of time going back and forth with Delaware County on this point,” Rosnick said. “Our stance is if [the sheriff’s office] doesn’t want to house ICE detainees, then just remove the ICE rider from the contract.
“They’re politely declining to take that route,” she said.
“I’m actively working with our design team to figure out clarifying language that makes it very clear to the public that ICE detainees are not currently there, but they could be unless that [language] is removed from the contract.”
Rosnick said she flagged the word “pending” as confusing and will update the report with clearer language by Thursday morning.
ACLU of Ohio updated the language on Wednesday evening to say Delaware County is “not housing ICE detainees at the time of publication.”
