Sheriff Dan Marx of Winneshiek County, Iowa, has publicly stated his refusal to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, claiming they are “unconstitutional.”
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Marx explained his policy, stating he does not trust ICE’s methods and will obstruct their actions if he deems them outside constitutional boundaries.
An ICE detainer is a request to local law enforcement to hold an individual suspected of being in the country illegally for up to 48 hours and notify ICE before their release.
READ: ICE Arrests Deported Dominican National In Massachusetts On New Assault, Theft Charges
Sheriff Marx argues that these detainers, which are not judicially vetted warrants, are simply unconstitutional requests. He stated his department will only cooperate with ICE or other federal agencies if they present paperwork that has been reviewed and approved by a judge.
“If their actions or paperwork are not within constitutional parameters (such as non-judicially vetted ‘detainers,’ which are very different than warrants and are simply an unconstitutional ‘request’ from ICE or other three-letter federal agency to arrest or hold someone), then we will make every effort to block, interfere and interrupt their actions from moving forward,” Marx wrote on Facebook.
READ: ICE Apprehends MS-13 Gang Member In Maryland
He added that this policy has earned him the nicknames “Sanctuary Sheriff” and “Constitutional Sheriff.”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds responded to Marx’s comments with a letter reminding him of his duty to uphold Iowa law. She cited Iowa Code chapter 27A, which states that a sheriff “shall not adopt or enforce a policy or take any other action under which the sheriff prohibits or discourages the enforcement of immigration laws.”
Governor Reynolds has referred the letter to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird as an official complaint. According to KCRG, Attorney General Bird has opened an investigation into Winneshiek County.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.