Sheriff refuses cooperation with ICE in schools, churches without valid court order
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, on behalf of the sheriff’s department, has released a statement on his firm stance against immigration enforcement on local school campuses.
“My stance is clear and strong that immigration enforcement is not allowed on our school campuses unless forced through a valid court order,” the sheriff said in a statement.
Sheriff Miller said via the statement that he has spoken out against cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) repeatedly because “federal immigration law is not the responsibility of local officers and damages law enforcement’s trust within the immigrant community.”
The statement says the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will not partner with ICE to enforce federal immigration laws beyond following HB10, which applies only after someone has committed a crime.
