Amid rising tensions in Minnesota and elsewhere surrounding aggressive ICE tactics and nationwide protests against the immigration crackdowns, Pikeville Sen. Phillip Wheeler has filed a bill that would strengthen ties between state law enforcement and ICE.
Wheeler describes the bill as increasing "clarity, consistency, and public safety."
Those officers don't have the specific training in immigration law, which is very different than other laws. I actually worry about how much ICE trains their agents in immigration law.Gov. Andy Beshear
Under Senate Bill 89, Kentucky State Police and local police departments would be required to enter into agreements with ICE that would allow officers to assist in immigration enforcement through "jail-based identification, task force coordination, and the service of administrative warrants."
A similar push by Boone County Republican Rep. TJ Roberts was heard in committee ahead of the current legislative session.
Gov. Beshear says he's not read the bills, but he's concerned they could potentially take officers away from their regular responsibilities.
"Any bill that mandates that our law enforcement work with ICE upon their request is going to make us less safe instead of safer," the Democrat said Thursday. "Those officers don't have the specific training in immigration law, which is very different than other laws. I actually worry about how much ICE trains their agents in immigration law."
Advocates argue the ICE agreements do provide extra training to state and local officers on limited immigration enforcement that would coincide with their typical duties rather than pull them away from routine policing.
Wheeler has said when individuals are already in custody for criminal activity, law enforcement should have the "tools and partnerships needed to ensure the law is enforced appropriately and responsibly."