Aderholt Statement on the Decision by ICE to Stay in Etowah County

Contact: Brian Rell

(202)-225-4876

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today issued the following statement regarding the decision by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stay at the Etowah County Detention Center (ECDC).

“ICE made the decision to preserve their presence at Etowah County Detention Center when we sat down with the ICE officials in Washington and explained Sheriff Entrekin and the employees of the ECDC run a very tight, cost effective operation. I want to emphasize what Director Morton told me – it was the affordable, high quality service provided by Etowah County.

The turn of events occurred after a meeting in Congressman Robert Aderholt’s office when the Sheriff discussed the merits of ECDC with Gary Mead, the head of Enforcement and Removal Operations for ICE. Less than a week later Director Morton reached out to Congressman Aderholt to let his decision to retain the services of ECDC be known.

“Director Morton should be commended for breaking through the bureaucratic hurdles to utilize the lowest cost and highest value option which is the Etowah facility,” Congressman Aderholt said. “The Etowah County detention facility is a window by which I can see first-hand and hear from people I trust on how ICE operates and performs.”

This decision came after several months of meetings between the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama congressional delegation and ICE. In addition to Sheriff Todd Entrekin’s effort, the Etowah County state legislative delegation along with the County Commission was active in pursing solutions for the detention facility as well. It was a team effort by everyone.