The State Sheriff's Association is recommending its members refuse requests by the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to hold foreign-born detainees for additional time so they can investigate any immigration-related offenses.
They're called ICE detainers.
Wayne County Sheirff Barry Virts says he's not holding individuals on a detainer, but he's only following the law.
He says an Oregon court judge ruled earlier this year that ICE detainers amounted to a request, not a court order.
Virts says when his office receives a court order, he will detain people.
He explains detainers are a notice to his department that someone is wanted by another law enforcement agency. Virts says his office will then contact them, and that other agency will come pick up the individual.
He emphasizes he can't hold anyone without a court order, and the Sheriff's Association and County attorney advised him to handle those detainers as requests.
Virts notes there have been cases where sheriffs in other states have been sued for holding people on detainers, and the federal government was absent in their defense.
Virts says his job is to be fair and just, follow the law, and make sure everyone is entitled to due process.