Kentuckians must demand answers about ICE detention in our jails

As of April 2026, Kentucky county jails are holding 1,079 prisoners for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Who are these ICE detainees? What conditions are they living under in our state?

At least nine Kentucky jails have contracts to house federal ICE detainees. As of April 2026, ICE classified only 26% of these detainees as criminals—a stark contrast with typical jail operations, where nearly 100% of detainees face a criminal charge. The Constitution forbids the government from depriving any person on U.S. soil of their liberty without a criminal charge or trial; this is our right to due process. Furthermore, ICE routinely transfers detained immigrants from other states into Kentucky and shuffles them among jails. These moves disrupt attorney-client relationships, confuse families, and delay legal decisions on whether immigrants have been lawfully imprisoned.

County jails are publicly-funded and operated by our local elected officials. The people of Kentucky want to know what is happening inside these jails. To make sure immigrants and others in our jails receive humane treatment and due process, we must ask our local elected officials for information now.

What should we be asking? The League’s new report is a great guide. Here are just some of the questions we want local officials to answer:

• How many people are being held for ICE in our jail? 
• Do we accept ICE detainees when our jail is already full? If so, where do they sleep and pass their days?
• What happens when you release immigrants who are not from our county? 
• How can immigrants contact their attorneys and families, and how often? 
• How do you make sure they can participate in their preferred religious services? 
• How do they get health care and medications? 
• How often are they able to participate in indoor and outdoor recreation?
• Do you provide translation services?  
• What complaints have you had about the treatment of immigrants?
• Does our jail benefit financially from housing immigrants? May I see the jail budget?
• How often is our jail inspected? How have you addressed any problems that were found?
• How can we learn more about what it is like for immigrants in our jail?

Whom should you ask about these issues? Reach out to these local elected officials:

• Jailers or corrections department directors: Elected jailers run the jails in most counties. In Jefferson and Fayette counties, corrections department directors are responsible. In counties without jails, Kentuckians can ask their jailer where immigrant-detainees are sent and then ask questions of administrators of those facilities. 
• Fiscal court or urban council members: In most counties, the fiscal court makes important decisions about jails, including budget, federal and state contracts and fees, and rules for prisoner treatment. In Jefferson and Fayette counties, city councils have these responsibilities. Kentuckians can attend fiscal court or council meetings and ask questions.
• Judge/executives or mayors: In 118 counties, judge/executives have the power to inspect the jail, help draft the jail budget, and request hearings on jail violations identified by state inspections.  In Jefferson and Fayette counties, mayors hold those responsibilities.

For democracy to function, we need transparency, accountability, and respect for due process — not just at the federal level, but right here at home. It is up to us, the people of Kentucky, to make sure our county jails operate with respect to our U.S. Constitution. Find our reports on immigrant detentions in Kentucky and share conversations you have with officials at lwvky.org.

Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern