Hopkins County officials received an update from Jailer Mike Lewis on the costs and operations of housing ICE detainees at the local jail during last week’s Fiscal Court meeting.
Lewis reported the jail began housing ICE detainees in late March and reached near capacity by the end of May, maintaining those numbers through June and July. He added that they have billed ICE more than half a million dollars since late March.
click to download audioHe said that as of last Tuesday morning, the Hopkins County Jail was housing 167 ICE detainees.
click to download audioLewis said the detainees are appearing in court before federal judges in Memphis via video, and while there have been some challenges, the process is running smoothly and will benefit the county and its taxpayers.
When asked about the ICE revenue, Lewis explained that the ICE payments are just like state inmate payments.
click to download audioDistrict 5 Magistrate Billy Parrish pointed out the jail costs associated with transporting and feeding ICE detainees, but Lewis clarified that ICE reimburses them for deputy transport, mileage, and hours spent on security during federal court video appearances—expenses not covered for state inmates.
click to download audioHe said the jail earns more money from housing ICE detainees than it does from state inmates.
click to download audioLewis also pointed out that there are some disadvantages to the ICE detainees, such as they cannot be a part of the Community Service Program and work outside. He added that housing the ICE detainees has helped fill beds left empty by declining state inmate numbers in Kentucky.
