​We demand Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin keep our community safe for immigrants and refugees. He must refuse to participate in the falsely-named "Secure Communities" program and reject any new 287(g) agreements.

Sheriff Jim Kaelin has applied for a “287(g) Agreement” that deputizes Nueces County Sheriff Department employees to act as ICE agents enforcing federal laws. We demand that Sheriff Jim Kaelin withdraw this application.

287(g) creates distrust between local law enforcement and the communities they claim to serve and protect. As residents of Nueces County, we are stronger and safer together. We demand Sheriff Jim Kaelin to stand with our community and refuse to participate in any programs that divides families.

Nueces County Sheriff’s Office​ ​(NCSO) shall​ ​adopt​ ​the​ ​following​ ​policies​ ​to ensure​ ​the​ ​safety​ ​and​ ​security​ ​of​ ​all​ ​Nueces residents:

NCSO will commit to resisting all attempts for participation in 287(g) or any similar program that deputizes local law enforcement agents to act as immigration agents.

NCSO will not sign any Intergovernmental Service Agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain immigrants or devote any bed space to immigrants in deportation proceedings.

NCSO will not honor any detainer issued by ICE unless it is accompanied by a warrant signed by a U.S. District Court judge or magistrate. ICE detainers are not mandatory nor are they warrants. As a result, holding an individual beyond when they would otherwise be released from custody solely for immigration purposes, without a judicial warrant or probable cause of a new offense, is unconstitutional. It violates that individual’s Fourth Amendment rights, and is an unlawful detention.

NCSO shall not assist ICE in the enforcement of immigration laws. This includes:

a. Allowing ICE to access city databases;

b. Notifying ICE of an individual’s release from custody;

c. Allowing ICE to interview, interrogate, or meet with an individual in custody without giving the individual a meaningful opportunity to refuse or have counsel present;

d. Asking or inquiring about an individual’s immigration status;

NCSO​ shall not use any money, personnel, or resources to assist with the enforcement of federal immigration laws.