Livingston County Sheriff's Office and ICE: 287(g) Warrant Service Officer agreement

What the records show

A records note, dated Oct 18, 2026. Every finding below is labeled. Confirmed by the record means the page says it. Working hypothesis means the records point that way but do not settle it. Page numbers refer to the PDFs below.

• Confirmed by the recordWhat the agreement allows.

  Appendix A says participating Sheriff's Office staff "are delegated only the following authorities" (p. 8):

  "The power and authority to serve and execute warrants of arrest for immigration violations ... on designated aliens in LEA jail/correctional facilities at the time of the alien's scheduled release from criminal custody in order to transfer custody of the alien to ICE" (p. 8).

  "The power and authority to serve warrants of removal ... on designated aliens in LEA jail/correctional facilities at the time of the alien's scheduled release from criminal custody that executes the custodial transfer of the alien to ICE for removal purposes" (p. 8).

  "The power and authority to detain and transport ... any aliens arrested pursuant to the immigration laws, to ICE-approved detention facilities," but "Only upon a request of an ICE officer authorizing such action" (p. 8).

  Under each of the two warrant powers: "Upon transfer of the alien's custody to ICE, the alien will continue to be held in the LEA's jail/correctional facilities for no more than 48 hours unless there exists an agreement pursuant to which the LEA will continue to detain, for a reimbursable fee, aliens for immigration purposes. In the absence of an agreement, if the alien is not transferred to an ICE field office or an immigration detention facility within 48 hours, the alien shall be released from the LEA jail/correctional facility" (p. 8).

  Nomination: "The LEA will use due diligence to screen and nominate candidates for ICE training and approval under this MOA" (p. 1, IV.B). Training, certification and authorization by ICE: pp. 2 and 3, IV.C and IV.D. Supervision: "Participating LEA personnel are not authorized to perform immigration officer functions except when working under the supervision or direction of ICE" (p. 3, IV.F). Effective date: "This MOA becomes effective upon signature of both parties" (p. 6, VIII). Signatures and dates: p. 7.

• Confirmed by the recordWho pays.

  The agreement makes the Sheriff's Office responsible for its staff's salaries, benefits and overtime, their travel, housing and per diem for training, office supplies and security equipment; ICE provides instructors and training materials (p. 3). The cost section's one reimbursement provision is discretionary: if ICE determines the training "provides a direct service for the Government and it is in the best interest of the Government," the government "may" reimburse training travel, housing and per diem (p. 3).

  Agreement p. 3, IV.E: "The LEA is responsible for the salaries and benefits, including any overtime, of all of its personnel being trained or performing duties under this MOA"; "The LEA will cover the costs of all LEA personnel's travel, housing, and per diem affiliated with the training required for participation in this MOA"; "ICE will provide instructors and training materials"; "The LEA is responsible for providing all administrative supplies (e.g. printer toner) necessary for normal office operations. The LEA is also responsible for providing the necessary security equipment, such as handcuffs, leg restraints, etc."; "the Government may issue travel orders to selected personnel and reimburse travel, housing, and per diem expenses only."

• Confirmed by the recordRelease of information.

  The agreement says the Sheriff's Office "may, at its discretion, communicate the substance of this agreement" to organizations and groups "expressing an interest in the law enforcement activities" under it, and that, as ICE does, it may give a copy of the signed agreement to media that request one. It also says the Office "agrees to coordinate with ICE prior to releasing any information relating to, or exchanged under, this MOA," and that "Nothing herein limits LEA's compliance with state public records laws regarding those records that are solely state records and not ICE records" (p. 6).

  Agreement p. 6, V.C, "Release of Information to Third Parties," including: "It is the practice of ICE to provide a copy of this MOA, only after it has been signed, to requesting media outlets; the LEA is authorized to do the same."

• Confirmed by the recordCompared with Calhoun County's agreement.

  The page footers read "Revised 06/04/2025." Calhoun County's 287(g) agreement, whose footers read "Revised 02/15/2025," lists two authorities, serving and executing arrest warrants and serving removal warrants; this agreement lists those two and the authority to detain and transport (p. 8; Calhoun agreement p. 8).

  Livingston agreement p. 8: "Participating LEA personnel are delegated only the following authorities listed below." Calhoun agreement p. 8: "Participating LEA personnel are only delegated the two authorities listed below." Footers: every page of each agreement. Calhoun County records, with its 287(g) agreement.

• Confirmed by the recordThe Board of Commissioners.

  The county's response says: "287(g) did not go to the Board of Commissioners or any of its committees, no such documentation exists." Each signer "represents it is fully authorized to enter into this MOA" (p. 7). Nothing in the released records shows whether Board approval was required.

  The county's October 16 response. Agreement p. 7: "By signing this MOA, each party represents it is fully authorized to enter into this MOA, accepts the terms, responsibilities, obligations, and limitations of this MOA, and agrees to be bound thereto to the fullest extent allowed by law."