Ohio Lake County Signs ICE Agreements; Illinois Denies Ties

(OHIO, UNITED STATES) The Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio has entered into two new ICE agreements that expand its role in federal immigration enforcement, a move announced on September 17, 2025 by Sheriff Frank Leonbruno. The sheriff signed the Task Force Model and the Warrant Service Officer (WSO) Program, allowing trained deputies and jail staff to take specific actions tied to immigration status during routine work and jail release.

The office says the changes are limited in scope and focused on legal compliance, not politics, while immigrant advocates in Lake County, Ohio warn the policies could raise the risk of detention for people with unresolved immigration issues.

What the two programs allow

• Task Force Model
  • Deputies may check for ICE detainers during routine duties, such as traffic stops.
  • If a detainer exists, deputies can take the person into custody and transfer them to ICE.
  • Participation requires specialized ICE training.
• Warrant Service Officer (WSO) Program
  • Trained jail staff can serve and execute ICE administrative warrants on inmates in custody.
  • If an inmate set to be released is found to be in the country without status, jail staff may hold them for up to 48 hours for ICE pickup.
  • Participation requires specialized ICE training.

Important: Both programs require specialized ICE training before any deputy or staff member can participate.

Sheriff’s stated limits and safeguards

Sheriff Leonbruno emphasized the agreements are intended to clarify legal authority and said his office will protect constitutional rights and civil liberties. He set specific limits:

• The county jail will not become an ICE detention center.
• The jail will not house immigration detainees for pay.
• Deputies will not start independent immigration investigations.
• The office will not join ICE raids unless specifically requested for high-risk violent offenders or cartel members.
• Jail staff must complete ICE-led training before performing WSO duties.
• The jail will not hold people beyond the 48-hour window authorized for ICE pickup.

Immediate effects and scenarios

The two ICE agreements affect people in different situations:

• During routine community encounters, a deputy using the Task Force Model may identify an ICE detainer and place the person into custody for transfer to ICE.
• Inside the jail, WSO-trained staff can serve and execute ICE warrants. If an inmate is flagged for immigration reasons at release, they may be held up to 48 hours to allow ICE to take custody.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, counties that adopt the Task Force Model often see a rise in detainer holds tied to routine policing, which can create sharp differences in community trust if residents fear that everyday stops might lead to immigration custody.

Community reaction and concerns

Immigration attorneys and advocates in Lake County report growing anxiety:

• Stacy Cozart Martin of MJB Immigration says her office has seen more calls from families worried that minor traffic issues or paperwork gaps could escalate into detention.
• Advocates warn the policies could increase racial profiling risks and cause family separations if parents or caregivers are held on detainers.
• Some residents fear they will stop reporting crimes out of worry that a simple interview could put a loved one in ICE custody.

Sheriff Leonbruno pushed back on those fears, reiterating the programs are about following the law and “codifying legal authority,” not giving deputies a license to seek out immigration violators.

Legal context and national comparisons

• The Lake County, Ohio partnership sits under the federal 287(g) program, a 1996 law that lets ICE work with local law enforcement in defined ways.
• The Task Force Model and WSO Program are two widely used approaches.
• Supporters say these tools help remove people with serious criminal records.
• Critics warn they can sweep up people with minor offenses or none at all, and could encourage profiling during traffic stops.

An official overview of the program is available on the ICE 287(g) Program page.

Notably, a county with the same name in Illinois has taken the opposite path: the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois states it has not signed any ICE agreements and is prohibited by Illinois law from holding people on ICE detainers or coordinating on immigration enforcement. That contrast has caused confusion among readers and residents following the news.

Implementation timeline and oversight

• The sheriff’s office expects full implementation later in 2025 once deputies and jail staff complete required training.
• The office says it will only assist ICE on targeted operations involving violent offenders or cartel-linked suspects and will not carry out immigration sweeps on its own.
• The jail will not contract to house immigration detainees (no pay-for-stay model).
• Attorneys and advocates plan to monitor arrests and detainer use closely and may consider legal action if patterns of wrongful detention or profiling emerge.

Practical impacts on families and residents

For many mixed-status families, immediate changes may be felt in everyday interactions:

• Routine traffic stops or low-level police contacts could lead to a detainer-based arrest if ICE already has a hold in place.
• For those in the jail system, the WSO Program’s up to 48-hour hold at release may delay reunions with family and could result in transfer to distant ICE facilities, complicating legal access and family arrangements.

Immigration lawyers recommend that noncitizens:
– Carry proof of identity,
– Keep key phone numbers handy,
– Avoid giving false information,
– Ask to speak with an attorney if detained.

They also urge families to prepare safety plans for children in case a parent is held on a detainer.

Key takeaway: The rules are in place; the real test will be whether enforcement balances public safety with community trust and civil rights.

What to watch next

• Monitor whether the Task Force Model increases detentions stemming from routine policing.
• Track jail release holds and whether they lead to transfers away from local communities.
• Observe community reporting behavior—whether fear reduces cooperation with police.
• Watch for legal challenges from civil rights groups if evidence of wrongful detention or profiling emerges.

The coming months will show how these ICE agreements shape day-to-day policing and trust in Lake County, Ohio. The impact will unfold on the road during traffic stops, at the jail gate at release, and in homes where families decide how to manage ordinary life under new pressure.