Executive Summary
- The Steuben County Legislature approved a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to house federal detainees by a vote of 13-4.
- Sheriff James Allard asserted the jail will not house civil immigration detainees, focusing only on criminally indicted federal prisoners.
- Residents voiced strong opposition, citing fears of increased cooperation with ICE and President Trump’s administration.
- The vote occurs as Governor Kathy Hochul proposes legislation to ban local 287(g) agreements with ICE in New York.
BATH, N.Y. — The Steuben County Legislature voted 13-4 to approve a renewed contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to house federal detainees at the county jail, despite a standing-room-only crowd of residents protesting potential cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The vote followed a contentious meeting where constituents expressed concerns that the agreement would deepen local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
The newly approved agreement stipulates that the federal government will pay the county $130 per day for each detainee, an increase of $30 from the previous contract. While the agreement focuses on federal prisoners held by the U.S. Marshals Service, previous iterations from 2011 and 2026 listed ICE as an "other authorized agency." This language fueled public apprehension that the jail could be utilized to house individuals detained for civil immigration violations.
Steuben County Sheriff James Allard defended the contract during a special committee meeting prior to the legislature’s vote. Allard stated unequivocally that the jail is not an ICE detention center and will not house detainees held solely for civil immigration matters. He clarified that the agreement allows the county to generate revenue by housing individuals who have been criminally indicted at the federal level, a group that may include those facing criminal charges related to immigration violations.
"It’s whoever gets arraigned and indicted at a federal level, then the Marshal Service contacts us and they bring them here," Allard explained. He distinguished these criminal cases from administrative violations, such as visa overstays, noting that civil administrative cases are processed through federal detention centers rather than county facilities.
During the public comment period, residents from Corning, Painted Post, and surrounding towns urged legislators to reject the contract and rescind existing 287(g) agreements. Speakers cited moral objections and fear regarding the immigration policies of President Trump’s administration. "We are all afraid," said Mary Lisi, a resident of Bradford. "We can’t be naive to think that this isn’t going to happen to our family or friends."
The controversy is compounded by two 287(g) agreements the county entered into with ICE in June: the Warrant Service Officer program and the Task Force Model. These programs grant local law enforcement limited authority in immigration enforcement duties. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently introduced legislation seeking to ban local law enforcement agencies from participating in such agreements, creating potential conflict between county policy and proposed state law.
Intergovernmental Policy Implications
The approval of the U.S. Marshals contract highlights the growing tension between local fiscal strategies and community resistance to federal immigration enforcement. While county officials view the contract as a standard revenue mechanism for housing federal prisoners, the strong public opposition signals a deepening divide over the role of local police in federal policy implementation. As state-level scrutiny of 287(g) agreements intensifies, Steuben County may face future regulatory challenges regarding its cooperation with federal agencies. It is important to note that all individuals detained under federal criminal indictments are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
