Facility county-jail Operational

Campbell County Detention Center — 150+ ICE detainees, $2.6M revenue, fiscal court scrutiny

Campbell, KY FIPS 21037
holding up to 200 at peak
Bed capacity
Operator: Campbell County

Overview

The Campbell County Detention Center contracted with ICE by April 2025, growing to nearly 150 average detainees by mid-August and holding as many as 200 at peak. Notably, it does NOT participate in 287(g) — the jailer has explicitly confirmed this. ICE serves its own paperwork; local officers do not enforce immigration warrants.

Key Facts

  • ICE detainees: ~150 average, up to 200 at peak
  • Contract signed: By April 2025
  • Rate: $88/day per federal immigration detainee
  • Revenue: $2.6 million billed to USMS since January 2025
  • 287(g): NO — jailer Daley explicitly confirmed non-participation
  • Contract: USMS Prisoner Operations Division (last updated March 2025)
  • Starting population: 44 federal detainees at contract signing

Fiscal Court Scrutiny

After resident pushback:

  • January 21, 2026: Eight residents spoke at Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting
  • Judge/Executive Steve Pendery facilitated 30 minutes of Q&A
  • February 4, 2026: Jailer brought before fiscal court to answer questions
  • Jailer confirmed: No 287(g), no immigration warrant enforcement by local officers, ICE detainees treated same as other inmates

Why It Matters

Campbell County represents the “just holding” model — detention without active 287(g) enforcement cooperation. The jailer’s explicit distinction between housing detainees (which they do) and actively identifying/arresting immigrants (which they don’t) highlights the spectrum of county involvement. The $2.6M revenue in roughly one year demonstrates the financial incentive even without 287(g).

Sources

Edit Report issue County profile
Last updated: Apr 13, 2026