County Fight
Contested
Hamilton County TN — 287(g) partnership active, but sheriff refused ICE bed request; 100+ protest
Hamilton, TN
FIPS 47065
Current status: 287(g) jail enforcement model active since early 2025. 117+ people sent to ICE by May 2025, 500+ arrested with unauthorized/unknown citizenship in 2025. Sheriff declined ICE request for 60 transit beds. Over 100 protested at Jan 2026 commission meeting.
The Fight
Hamilton County (Chattanooga) entered a 287(g) jail enforcement model agreement with ICE in early 2025. The program has been active, transferring 117 people to ICE detention by May 2025 and arresting over 500 people with unauthorized or unknown citizenship status in 2025. However, Sheriff Austin Garrett declined an ICE request to designate 60 beds for transit detainees at the Hamilton County Jail.
Community opposition surfaced strongly in January 2026 when over 100 people packed a County Commission meeting to protest immigration enforcement.
Key Details
287(g) program
- Model: Jail Enforcement Model
- Signed: Early 2025
- Function: Identify and process individuals without US citizenship who have criminal or pending criminal charges
- Detainees transferred to ICE: 117+ by May 2025
- Total arrested with unauthorized/unknown status: 500+ in 2025
ICE bed request refused
- ICE representative met with Sheriff Garrett in September 2025
- Followed up via email requesting 60 beds for transit detainees from other jurisdictions (beyond normal 48-hour hold)
- Sheriff Garrett: “I refused it. I declined it”
- This refusal is notable given Hamilton County’s otherwise cooperative posture
Arrest demographics
- Largest charge categories: traffic violations, license/registration issues, drunk driving
- Most reported to ICE from Guatemala and Mexico, also Central America, South America, Africa, Southeast Asia
Community opposition
- January 28, 2026: Over 100 people protested at Hamilton County Commission meeting
- Protesters opposed county’s involvement with federal immigration enforcement
Sources
- 117 people in Hamilton County sent to ICE detention in 2025 (NewsChannel 9, May 2025)
- Over 500 arrested with unauthorized status in 2025 (Chattanooga Times Free Press, Jan 2026)
- Over 100 protest Hamilton County involvement with ICE (Times Free Press, Jan 2026)
- Sheriff declined federal request for ICE detainee housing (NewsChannel 9)
- Hamilton County Sheriff gives first look at ICE enforcement program (Local 3 News)
- Hamilton County 287(g) partnership (Local 3 News)
This research is published at The RAMM — investigative reporting on the detention pipeline.