Louisville, Ky. — The Clark County Jail has recently started accepting detainees from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a new agreement with federal authorities. This arrangement, confirmed by Mark Grube, Assistant Chief of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, comes as part of the sheriff’s department’s ongoing contract with the U.S. Marshals Service.
According to Grube, the agreement was made at the request of ICE, allowing the jail to house up to 150 detainees, with the exact number left to the discretion of Sheriff Scottie Maples. The decision to begin accepting ICE detainees was made last Friday, April 11, when the jail began housing its first group.
Currently, the facility is holding 48 ICE detainees, although the length of their stays remains unclear. Grube explained that the duration of each detainee’s stay would be determined by immigration authorities.
In a statement, Grube emphasized the jail’s commitment to maintaining transparency and ensuring fair treatment for all individuals in custody. “We are committed to transparency and the fair treatment of all in our custody,” he said.
Despite the new arrangement, Grube noted that the jail’s staffing has not been adjusted. The necessary space for housing the additional detainees was already available under the sheriff’s department’s existing contract with the U.S. Marshals, which previously allowed for the detention of federal prisoners.
The Clark County Jail’s decision to accommodate ICE detainees marks a significant step in the sheriff’s office’s collaboration with federal authorities. While the number of detainees may fluctuate, it remains to be seen how long this arrangement will continue, as immigration authorities will ultimately control the duration of each detainee’s stay.
This move comes amid increasing attention on local jails’ roles in detaining individuals for federal immigration purposes, highlighting the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and detention practices in the U.S.
