PHOTO VIA UNSPLASH.COM
Orange County commissioners have directed the county attorney to renegotiate the existing Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) concerning detainees housed in the Orange County Jail.
Orange County Jail is currently one of many facilities in the state that is housing ICE detainees
Key changes requested by the Commission include:
- Remove transportation responsibilities: The county rejects the proposed addendum that would have allowed its corrections officers to transport ICE detainees to other facilities, like the “Alligator Alcatraz” site in the Everglades.
- Limit holding period: The county wants to cap the duration detainees can be held locally at 48 hours, eliminating extended stays.
- Increase reimbursement: Orange County currently receives $88 per detainee per day and seeks a higher rate to better cover expenses.
Over a dozen community members, including immigration advocates and faith-based leaders, have urged the County to cancel the ICE deal entirely, citing due process and human rights concerns, but Florida’s Attorney General has hinted at consequences for local officials who fail to cooperate with federal immigration programs.
It is unclear at this time if the federal government will agree to the proposed changes.
