Wicomico Sheriff Dispels Rumors his Agency is Arm of ICE

SALISBURY, Md. — No. The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office is not working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to detain and arrest undocumented residents living in Wicomico County.

But his agency is drafting a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wicomico County Executive’s Office to outline a process for working with ICE when detainees are brought to his jail.

“I get phone calls about (working with ICE) all the time,” says Sheriff Lewis. “I can assure you not one of my deputies has been working with ICE on the street.”

And while Sheriff Lewis says neither the old Sheriff’s Office building, nor the Wicomico County Detention Center on Naylor Mill Road, are being used as ICE detainee processing and holding facilities, the MOU currently being drafted will establish parameters for holding such detainees once ICE brings them in.

“We won’t be doing any (ICE) enforcement efforts on the streets; that is not my goal,” Sheriff Lewis says. “Anything and everything we will be doing will be done within the local county jail once (suspected illegal immigrants) are arrested on other charges and brought to the jail. We will assist (ICE) in identifying dangerous individuals and getting them out of our community.”

Sheriff Lewis says his agency and officers will strive to establish a positive working relationship with ICE but will not target local community members.