SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (Story Courtesy of WVLT) – The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) applied to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in February, and now the application is almost done.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Sheriff Michael Hodges said:
The Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association introduced the process in February. Sheriff Michael R. Hodges Jr. said he personally reached out to ICE to request SCSO’s participation in all models, including
- The Jail Enforcement Model (JEM)
- The Warrant Service Officer (WSO)
- The Task Force Model (TFM) under the 287(g) program
According to Sheriff Hodges, SCSO is actively engaged in the application and vetting process, and they are committed to finalizing the partnership.
SCSO appears on the pending agencies spreadsheet obtained from ICE’s website as pending approval for TFM and WSO status.
So far, there are 37 ICE agencies in Tennessee, with five pending approval.
One of those already-partnered agencies is the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, which operates under a JEM. A previous report from WVLT revealed that, even after receiving backpay from ICE, the office is losing money under the contract.
There are no details yet on the specifics of Sevier County’s agreement.
The announcement comes days after protestors in Knoxville gathered outside of an ICE facility to demand the release of Alejandro Guizar Lozano, an undocumented East Tennessee immigrant and activist who was taken into custody in mid-October.
The full quote from SCSO’s Facebook page is below:
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office works closely with all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including Immigration & Customs Enforcement ICE, Homeland Security Investigations HSI, Federal Bureau of Investigations FBI, Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms ATF, Drug Enforcement Agency DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service USM.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has full-time detectives assigned as Task Force Officers (TFOs) to federal agencies—demonstrating our strong and active partnership at every level.
In January of 2025, the President of the United States issued a directive that allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enter into expedited agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies.
In February 2025, Sheriffs were introduced and educated regarding this process at the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association, where I serve on the Legislative Committee. On that same day, I personally reached out to ICE to request participation in every model offered, the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM), the Warrant Service Officer (WSO) and the Task Force Model (TFM) under the 287(g) program.
At this time, we are actively engaged in the application and vetting phase and are committed to finalizing our partnership as soon as we are approved. Only approved agencies with a formal agreement and whose officers have completed the mandated training can participate in these roles. Let me repeat, I initiated this process in February of 2025, on the same day that I was made aware.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office application is pending final approval. As a part of our application process, I personally met with the Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, and expect our MOAs to receive final approval and signatures soon.
Our ongoing work with ICE: In the interim, this Agency and other Sheriff’s Offices across this State, have been submitting monthly reports to the Tennessee District Attorney General’s Office Conference, listing individuals arrested, who cannot provide proof of lawful presence. Based on this collaboration, numerous illegal immigrants, who have been charged/arrested in Sevier County, have been apprehended with our direct assistance.
To claim that I or this office does not support Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) is completely false. Every available action to strengthen our role in this mission has been taken to this point, and we will continue to do so. The safety and welfare of our citizens and visitors alike is our top priority, and that includes all, strong, lawful enforcement through proper federal partnerships.
Like most Americans, we believe in following legal immigration paths, with respect to our laws, period.
If you have questions about our participation, my office is open and willing to provide accurate information.
