STRYKER, Ohio – The Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio (CCNO) board has voted to approve a new contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), granting the federal agency access to up to 96 beds at the regional jail and providing transportation resources to move detainees in and out of the facility.
The decision, which passed by an 8-2 vote, has sparked debate among local officials. Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken, who serves on the CCNO board, was one of the two members to vote against the contract. In a statement following the vote, Gerken voiced his concerns about the potential impact on the jail’s operations, emphasizing that the facility is currently running smoothly and efficiently, serving the needs of its five-county membership: Lucas, Defiance, Henry, Williams, and Fulton counties.
“We have a very well-run institution right now,” Gerken said. “We know our population. We manage our population. Our facility is working very well for our five county members, and ICE wants to interfere with that because it is in dire need of space to fulfill a political order. That sounds like a them problem, not an us problem.”
The agreement will allow ICE to temporarily house detainees at the regional jail, which has a longstanding history of holding inmates for local jurisdictions. As part of the deal, ICE will also have access to transportation services to move detainees to and from the facility. Proponents of the contract argue that it will provide additional revenue to the facility, helping cover operational costs, but opponents, including Gerken and Lucas County Sheriff Mike Navarre, have expressed concerns that the deal could lead to overpopulation and strain the jail’s resources.
The CCNO operates with a 10-member board, consisting of commissioners and sheriffs from the five counties it serves. While Gerken and Navarre opposed the contract, the remaining eight board members voted in favor of the agreement, ultimately approving the arrangement with ICE.
Sheriff Navarre also voiced concerns about the deal, highlighting the potential for overcrowding and the challenges it could pose to the jail’s ability to manage local inmates effectively. However, supporters of the contract have argued that the arrangement will help address both federal and local detention needs without significantly impacting the daily operations of the facility.
The approval of the contract comes amid growing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the role of local detention centers in housing ICE detainees. As the situation continues to evolve, the impact of the agreement on both the CCNO’s operations and local communities remains a point of contention.