Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Pleasure to welcome onto the program. Douglas County Commissioner Mike
Friend joins us here on kfab's morning News. Commissioner, Good morning, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning, Scott. I'm assuming Jim's got some headphones on.
It might be both of you guys. Good morning, gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Jim Rose is in the vicinity. But the reason you
don't hear him now is because he's nowhere near a microphone.
Otherwise you would definitely right hear him.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Going to going to get a granola bar.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yes, there's no telling what might happen with Jim over
the next few minutes. I wanted to have you on
the program because I've talked a lot here in the
past year or so about a letter that was sent
to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September of twenty twenty one,
first year of the Biden administration, and it went out
from Douglas County Corrections Director Michael Myers, serving his written
(00:50):
notice of Douglas County's intent to terminate their agreement with
Immigration Customs Enforcement. They said, we've determined that continuing this
agreement is no longer in the best interest of the
Department of Corrections or Douglas County, and this is the
reason why, according to some news sources, Douglas County ended
up as a sanctuary county and as such, Omaha was
(01:14):
often listed as a sanctuary city on some of these
national websites. Can you give us some indication as to
why this happened in twenty twenty one, Scott.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I sure can. In twenty twenty one. Let me let
me give you the highlights, and then we can dig
in a little bit. In twenty twenty one, what the
what the court, the Corrections Director, and what the and
what Douglas County was was dealing with was a situation
(01:49):
that I would I would consider it probably somewhat driven
by the Biden administration. I mean, there were really difficult
auditing practices I think not from local ICE agents, but
I believe from Washington, d C. Difficult auditing practices to
manage here in Douglass County. There are also rules and
(02:09):
processes that ICE from a federal standpoint, was driving that
were making it really difficult to run separate rules and
policies here in Douglas County. We also the third aspect,
we also had capacity issues here in Douglass County. Mike
was right our director was right. We didn't have any
route back in twenty twenty one in our facility. And
(02:34):
then the numbers, finally, the numbers that ICE was actually
giving us back in twenty twenty one were minimal. I
mean we were getting we were getting four or five
ICE totainees a month, maybe maximum of fifteen. So many
of those issues have now been dealt with. We have
a new administration, The FEDS have taken a different tack
(02:59):
obviously as ours immigration and Customs enforcement. And here we
are in the middle of this stuff. I can tell
you that I have an issue with defining Douglas County
as a sanctuary city. I don't believe that, as a
matter of fact, the definition of a governmental subdivision in
the sanctuary city is refusing to cooperate with the Sense
(03:23):
or more specifically, iceed to deal with this stuff. I
believe we've got a productive, working relationship with ICE. We
just don't have a contract to house right now anywhere
from fifty to one hundred or one hundred and fifty
immigration detainees.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
However, let me jump in here. So what had happened
over the last few years here if Immigrations reached out
to Douglas County say the sheriff's office, the local police
and said, please, you've got someone now in your custody
who we really want to talk to. Will you detain them?
It sounds like a lot of them have been detained
in Potawatamee County. I talked with the sheriff over there,
(04:03):
Andy Brown, a few months ago. He said, not only
have we had no problem monitoring this agreement, but we're
making a bunch of money here in pod Wadam County
doing so. ICE pays us a bunch of money to
do this. Douglas County is losing out on millions of
dollars a year.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Well, that's a good point, and I can tell you
that I believe we have. I said this, I believe
we have a good, productive, working relationship with ICE at
Douglas County. We just don't have a contract to detain
hundreds of individuals at this point, and I'll get to
that in a second. But we have ICE detainers that
are being followed and utilized. So, in other words, device
(04:40):
if ICE requests from or excuse me, if Immigration and
Customs Reform or enforcement asks us to hold us a
non citizen that has violated a state or federal crime
specifically that we're actually holding for forty eight hours, you know,
past the release date. We'll do that. We'll coordinate with ICE.
(05:01):
The difference is ICE is we just don't have a
contract to house a tremendous amount of individuals that ICE
may detain that aren't being allegedly held or not or
held on alleged crimes that they violated state, local, federal,
(05:24):
or whatever. Specifically they were arrested for a specific crime.
The point is we have detainers. We're working with ICE.
I think the thing is in order to get a
new contract set up with ICE that will provide larger
detainment qualifications. I believe now it's probably a policy and
(05:48):
political issue.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I just got I just got a minute left here,
So let me put a fine point on this. It
doesn't sound like the Douglas County commissioners. You guys voted
on this change a few years ago. Do you need
to vote now to change it back? And do you
think this is something that the Douglas County Board needs
to do.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Yes, in order to expand their relationship and the contract
with ICE, the County Board would have to come to
a determination that it's necessary and important right now. My
thing is ICE is out there right now looking for
the worst of the worst, and we're trying to do
everything that we can. In my opinion, we're trying to
(06:27):
do everything we can at the Dougas County level to
make sure those detainers are followed, that their relationship with
ICE is productive even without that contract. But frankly, Scott,
I just don't believe. I mean, I have a vote,
but I'm only one of seven, so I'm kind of
worried that I don't think the appetite is there to
(06:51):
renew the overall all encompassing ICE contract. I'll continue to
work with my fellow commissioners in regard to this issue,
but I'm a little worried about the policy and the
political implications of trying to get something like that past.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
So you're saying that Douglas County has a good relationship
with is is It almost sounds like, on one hand,
you're saying, we don't need to renew any kind of letter,
we have a good relationship. On the other hand, you're saying,
this is something the board needs to do, and I
don't think that they're going to do it. So what
what is the disconnect here?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, well, I think that I did in a weird way.
I think the disconnect is policy and politics. I'm I'm
one commissioner. I have certain ideological views. I think other
commissioners have different ideological views, and I respect those. I
just don't, you know, I'm not sure the votes are
there to expand that or or to renew that contract.
(07:45):
I could be wrong. I'm going to continue to work,
you know, from that angle. But in the meantime, Scott,
and this is important, you know, working with the county attorney,
working the Sheriff's office, and making sure Douglas County as
effective as we could possibly be with the situation that
we have now, I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Keep my eye on that, all right. So what happens?
What happens if we don't renew or set up a
new contract? Because you're saying, now, we've got a good relationship,
but we need to do this and we're probably not
going to. So what happens if we don't do it?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Well, it's a good question, and I think time will tell.
I mean, if we need to detain, if the public
policy argument in Douglas County is that we need to
detain and we need to help ICE detain anywhere from
fifty to one hundred to one hundred and fifty individuals
at any given time. Then it could force you know,
the entire board's hand. I personally think we had to
(08:37):
do it, you know now and renew the contract. But again,
I'm one guy out of seven, and I will continue
to try to make that case with other commissioners and
see where that consensus falls, because because it's a different
environment now, and I think ICE is doing good work.
I think they're being abused for no reason politically, uh
(09:02):
in my opinion, And you know, I think I think
the dialogue continues, Scott, I really do.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Keep us posted. My friend Dovis County board member, thank
you so much for the time today.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, you're welcome.
Pleasure to welcome onto the program. Douglas County Commissioner Mike
Friend joins us here on kfab's morning News. Commissioner, Good morning, Good.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning, Scott. I'm assuming Jim's got some headphones on.
It might be both of you guys. Good morning, gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Jim Rose is in the vicinity. But the reason you
don't hear him now is because he's nowhere near a microphone.
Otherwise you would definitely right hear him.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Going to going to get a granola bar.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yes, there's no telling what might happen with Jim over
the next few minutes. I wanted to have you on
the program because I've talked a lot here in the
past year or so about a letter that was sent
to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September of twenty twenty one,
first year of the Biden administration, and it went out
from Douglas County Corrections Director Michael Myers, serving his written
(00:50):
notice of Douglas County's intent to terminate their agreement with
Immigration Customs Enforcement. They said, we've determined that continuing this
agreement is no longer in the best interest of the
Department of Corrections or Douglas County, and this is the
reason why, according to some news sources, Douglas County ended
up as a sanctuary county and as such, Omaha was
(01:14):
often listed as a sanctuary city on some of these
national websites. Can you give us some indication as to
why this happened in twenty twenty one, Scott.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I sure can. In twenty twenty one. Let me let
me give you the highlights, and then we can dig
in a little bit. In twenty twenty one, what the
what the court, the Corrections Director, and what the and
what Douglas County was was dealing with was a situation
(01:49):
that I would I would consider it probably somewhat driven
by the Biden administration. I mean, there were really difficult
auditing practices I think not from local ICE agents, but
I believe from Washington, d C. Difficult auditing practices to
manage here in Douglass County. There are also rules and
(02:09):
processes that ICE from a federal standpoint, was driving that
were making it really difficult to run separate rules and
policies here in Douglas County. We also the third aspect,
we also had capacity issues here in Douglass County. Mike
was right our director was right. We didn't have any
route back in twenty twenty one in our facility. And
(02:34):
then the numbers, finally, the numbers that ICE was actually
giving us back in twenty twenty one were minimal. I
mean we were getting we were getting four or five
ICE totainees a month, maybe maximum of fifteen. So many
of those issues have now been dealt with. We have
a new administration, The FEDS have taken a different tack
(02:59):
obviously as ours immigration and Customs enforcement. And here we
are in the middle of this stuff. I can tell
you that I have an issue with defining Douglas County
as a sanctuary city. I don't believe that, as a
matter of fact, the definition of a governmental subdivision in
the sanctuary city is refusing to cooperate with the Sense
(03:23):
or more specifically, iceed to deal with this stuff. I
believe we've got a productive, working relationship with ICE. We
just don't have a contract to house right now anywhere
from fifty to one hundred or one hundred and fifty
immigration detainees.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
However, let me jump in here. So what had happened
over the last few years here if Immigrations reached out
to Douglas County say the sheriff's office, the local police
and said, please, you've got someone now in your custody
who we really want to talk to. Will you detain them?
It sounds like a lot of them have been detained
in Potawatamee County. I talked with the sheriff over there,
(04:03):
Andy Brown, a few months ago. He said, not only
have we had no problem monitoring this agreement, but we're
making a bunch of money here in pod Wadam County
doing so. ICE pays us a bunch of money to
do this. Douglas County is losing out on millions of
dollars a year.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Well, that's a good point, and I can tell you
that I believe we have. I said this, I believe
we have a good, productive, working relationship with ICE at
Douglas County. We just don't have a contract to detain
hundreds of individuals at this point, and I'll get to
that in a second. But we have ICE detainers that
are being followed and utilized. So, in other words, device
(04:40):
if ICE requests from or excuse me, if Immigration and
Customs Reform or enforcement asks us to hold us a
non citizen that has violated a state or federal crime
specifically that we're actually holding for forty eight hours, you know,
past the release date. We'll do that. We'll coordinate with ICE.
(05:01):
The difference is ICE is we just don't have a
contract to house a tremendous amount of individuals that ICE
may detain that aren't being allegedly held or not or
held on alleged crimes that they violated state, local, federal,
(05:24):
or whatever. Specifically they were arrested for a specific crime.
The point is we have detainers. We're working with ICE.
I think the thing is in order to get a
new contract set up with ICE that will provide larger
detainment qualifications. I believe now it's probably a policy and
(05:48):
political issue.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
I just got I just got a minute left here,
So let me put a fine point on this. It
doesn't sound like the Douglas County commissioners. You guys voted
on this change a few years ago. Do you need
to vote now to change it back? And do you
think this is something that the Douglas County Board needs
to do.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Yes, in order to expand their relationship and the contract
with ICE, the County Board would have to come to
a determination that it's necessary and important right now. My
thing is ICE is out there right now looking for
the worst of the worst, and we're trying to do
everything that we can. In my opinion, we're trying to
(06:27):
do everything we can at the Dougas County level to
make sure those detainers are followed, that their relationship with
ICE is productive even without that contract. But frankly, Scott,
I just don't believe. I mean, I have a vote,
but I'm only one of seven, so I'm kind of
worried that I don't think the appetite is there to
(06:51):
renew the overall all encompassing ICE contract. I'll continue to
work with my fellow commissioners in regard to this issue,
but I'm a little worried about the policy and the
political implications of trying to get something like that past.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
So you're saying that Douglas County has a good relationship
with is is It almost sounds like, on one hand,
you're saying, we don't need to renew any kind of letter,
we have a good relationship. On the other hand, you're saying,
this is something the board needs to do, and I
don't think that they're going to do it. So what
what is the disconnect here?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, well, I think that I did in a weird way.
I think the disconnect is policy and politics. I'm I'm
one commissioner. I have certain ideological views. I think other
commissioners have different ideological views, and I respect those. I
just don't, you know, I'm not sure the votes are
there to expand that or or to renew that contract.
(07:45):
I could be wrong. I'm going to continue to work,
you know, from that angle. But in the meantime, Scott,
and this is important, you know, working with the county attorney,
working the Sheriff's office, and making sure Douglas County as
effective as we could possibly be with the situation that
we have now, I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Keep my eye on that, all right. So what happens?
What happens if we don't renew or set up a
new contract? Because you're saying, now, we've got a good relationship,
but we need to do this and we're probably not
going to. So what happens if we don't do it?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Well, it's a good question, and I think time will tell.
I mean, if we need to detain, if the public
policy argument in Douglas County is that we need to
detain and we need to help ICE detain anywhere from
fifty to one hundred to one hundred and fifty individuals
at any given time. Then it could force you know,
the entire board's hand. I personally think we had to
(08:37):
do it, you know now and renew the contract. But again,
I'm one guy out of seven, and I will continue
to try to make that case with other commissioners and
see where that consensus falls, because because it's a different
environment now, and I think ICE is doing good work.
I think they're being abused for no reason politically, uh
(09:02):
in my opinion, And you know, I think I think
the dialogue continues, Scott, I really do.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Keep us posted. My friend Dovis County board member, thank
you so much for the time today.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, you're welcome.
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