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January 24, 2025
About the rumors regarding Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) visiting schools
It has been brought to the attention of Sheriff Farris and School Director Corby King that there are individuals in Putnam County who are concerned, especially those who have school age kids and those who are employed in our community, that Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be visiting schools and churches in Putnam County searching for illegal aliens. Sheriff Farris wants to assure everyone that is false information.
Sheriff Farris and the PCSO have a very close relationship with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and work closely together. ICE will not be coming into Putnam County looking for individuals here, unless they are searching for criminals and/or violent offenders who are illegal. If we do have someone committing crimes and/or a violent felon here in Putnam County, we will assist ICE in arresting them and deporting them. However, we have an approximately 4% Hispanic population here in Putnam County and we have very few criminal issues, mostly minor, evolving from our Hispanic community. They are an integral part of Putnam County. We need them, and we want them to feel welcome here.
President Trump and his New Administration have never claimed that they will be sending ICE into schools and churches looking for those individuals who have not committed a crime. Sheriff Farris and School Director Corby King want to reassure the parents and school-age kids that ICE, or any other law enforcement, will not be attending schools searching for underage, illegal immigrants.
Anyone, regardless of race, religion, color, creed, or nationality, committing crimes here in Putnam County will be addressed. The Sheriff’s Office is here to protect the good people of Putnam County and enforce laws to assure the good people here in Putnam County are safe.
To those individuals who are speaking false language and upsetting the Hispanic community, please stop and refrain from talking about law enforcement issues, especially referring to immigration issues, and spreading false information that can cause fear mongering in the community. We have a great community, and we intend to keep it that way.