Scott County sheriff addresses ICE detentions at Sikeston rodeo
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI) — Scott County Sheriff Derick Wheetley is responding to questions surrounding immigration-related detentions made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.
According to Wheetley, the individuals came to the attention of law enforcement Saturday night during the rodeo’s established age-verification process for guests seeking 21-and-over wristbands to purchase alcohol.
The sheriff said identification presented at designated checkpoints is scanned to verify a person’s age, confirm the validity of the identification and prevent wristbands from being transferred to underage attendees. When international identification requires additional verification, a uniformed law enforcement officer is called to assist.
Wheetley said several people presenting international identification required additional verification Saturday night. During those interactions, information obtained through the verification process raised questions about the individuals’ immigration status. ICE agents who were already at the rodeo responded and detained the individuals.
“The arrests Saturday night were made by ICE agents, not Scott County Sheriff’s Office task force officers,” Wheetley said in a statement.
The sheriff said ICE agents had been present at the rodeo since opening night and were not randomly approaching attendees to question their immigration status.
Wheetley also addressed the sheriff’s office’s participation in the federal 287(g) program, which allows trained local law enforcement officers to work with ICE on certain immigration enforcement matters. He said the partnership is intended to improve public safety and allow deputies to more efficiently handle immigration-related issues while returning to regular law enforcement duties more quickly.
Wheetley said his responsibility is to protect the public, enforce the law fairly, use county resources responsibly and provide transparency to the community. He urged the public to rely on verified facts rather than rumors when discussing Saturday night’s events.
