A group of local leaders are telling an independent think tank that Kent County is not and has never been a sanctuary county.
Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young and County Administrator/Controller Al Vanderberg sent a letter to the Center for Immigration saying Kent County is not a sanctuary county.
The group has Kent County listed on their website under the designation after the sheriff's office noted in 2019 that they would no longer hold individuals solely based on a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
KCSO decided in 2019 they would require a warrant signed by a federal judge.
The Republican Kent County Commissioners also penned a letter saying, "As individual County Commissioners, we want to set the record straight. Kent County is not a sanctuary county. As the elected representatives for our respective districts, we will never support any policy that encourages illegal immigrants to make their home here".
Commissioners Stan Stek, Ben Greene, Tom Antor, Jennifer Merchant, Katie DeBoer, Dave Hildenbrand, Stan Ponstein, Dan Burrill, Matt Kallman, Emily Brieve, Lindsey Thiel and Walter Bujak signed the letter.