As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests continue across the country—including here in Iowa—the Linn County Jail is currently housing some of those taken into federal custody.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has a three-year agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service to house ICE detainees, earning the county $140 per inmate, per day. Sheriff Brian Gardner says the actual cost to house an inmate currently runs between $125 and $130 per day, meaning the arrangement could be financially beneficial for the county.
This partnership isn’t new. Linn County previously housed ICE detainees to help fund construction of the jail on Mays Island in Cedar Rapids. “We’ve always housed them,” Gardner said, noting that numbers vary over time.
There are two ways the jail holds ICE detainees. Some are flagged through detainers—local arrests that trigger federal immigration holds. Others are brought in directly by ICE on federal charges and held under request.
The practice has drawn criticism from immigration advocates like Erienne Becker, a volunteer with the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids. Becker believes the jail should not be involved in immigration enforcement, pointing out the contributions immigrants make to Iowa communities.
“These are families who live here, work here, pay taxes, and raise children. They make our community stronger,” she said.
Linn County is not a participant in the federal 287(g) program, which allows some law enforcement agencies to act with immigration enforcement powers.
Once the current three-year contract ends, the county will have the opportunity to renegotiate the terms of the agreement.
