Overview

Western Regional Jail in Barboursville (Cabell County) served as an overflow ICE detention site during the January 2026 “Operation County Roads” sweep. When South Central in Charleston filled past capacity, detainees were distributed to Western (Barboursville) and Northern (Moundsville). Cabell County’s sheriff participates in the 287(g) Task Force Model.

Key Details

• Role: Overflow holding for Operation County Roads detainees (Jan 2026), alongside Northern Regional Jail
• Contract: WV DCR bed-rental to ICE at $90/detainee/day
• 287(g) context: Cabell County Sheriff participates in the 287(g) Task Force Model
• Status: Part of the WV system that suspended new ICE intake in late March 2026
• Note: Western was named as a holding site in reporting on Operation County Roads but was not among the three jails flagged for ICE overcapacity in the October 2025 data; specific rated capacity and ICE counts for this facility were not separately confirmed.

Why It Matters

Western Regional Jail demonstrates how the WV bed-rental model spread ICE detention across the state’s jail network during the January 2026 surge. Its use as overflow, combined with Cabell County’s 287(g) participation, makes Barboursville part of the enforcement footprint in the Huntington area.

Sources

• WV Watch: WV pauses putting immigrant detainees in jails (March 26, 2026)
• DHS: Partnership with West Virginia Leads to 650 Illegal Aliens Arrested in 2 Weeks (Feb 9, 2026)
• The Center Square: West Virginia law enforcement leading in ICE Task Force Model partnership