ICE removes detainees from Kenosha County jails amid coronavirus pandemic

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- For the first time in 20 years, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department is no longer holding any ICE detainees.

Concerned about the coronavirus, the sheriff’s department let ICE know they would not be accepting any more detainees at this time because the sheriff says the inmates come from all over the world and pose a health risk.

In response, ICE decided to remove all of the ICE detainees in the sheriff’s department custody. The sheriff's department said roughly 170 inmates were moved to Texas and other facilities. 

"One sick person comes into our facility it will devastate our entire operation…the deputies that transport them, our correctional officers, our nursing staff. We can’t afford it," said Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth. 

Sheriff Beth says they did get paid to hold these inmates..so they will lose some revenue, but he says not caring for these inmates frees up several of their resources.