Last week, The Journal spoke with Sheriff Steve Nowlin of the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office to learn more about the office’s policies regarding immigration status of inmates and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
When inmates with an immigration enforcement action pending are arrested, ICE will be notified of the arrest and court case number of the arrestee, Nowlin told The Journal.
The Montezuma County Detention Center and Sheriff’s Office, however, will not hold inmates for ICE, even if the inmate’s sentence expires before ICE can pick them up.
“We do not hold for ICE, same as a parole violation, we do not house federal prisoners,” Nowlin said. “Only La Plata County has a contract for federal inmate housing. ICE knows that when the person wanted for immigration violations is released, it is up to them to make a contact if they want, after the person is released and out of our facility.”
In addition, arrestees aren’t asked about their immigration status at the time of arrest and booking into the detention center.
“We do not ask arrestees about immigration status as we cannot enforce immigration law,” Nowlin said.
The Sheriff’s Office also does not notify ICE whenever a foreign-born inmate is booked in the jail. ICE would only be notified if there is a wanted notice in the National Crime Information Database, which Nowlin added would be the same as any other federal, out of state or out of jurisdiction warrant or wanted notice.
