One month after President Donald Trump instituted executive orders of deportation for criminal undocumented individuals, local law enforcement, including the fourteen sheriffs across the state, have limited authority to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
This past week sheriffs across the country were alerted to over 700,000 ICE administrative arrest warrants that may involve inmates at county jails. Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux says despite the perception of some residents sympathetic to the President, state and local law enforcement are prohibited from arresting individuals of interest to ICE.
Sheriff Heroux says his office is allowed to share information with ICE agents to see if inmates at the county jail have outstanding warrants. There are 10 inmates out of the 670 currently housed at the House of Correction in Dartmouth that have ICE warrants issued against them.
The sheriff says he respects Federal law enforcement and the work they provide within local communities and, if called upon, will support them in any legal capacity.
