County Response - or Lack Thereof

On October 30 I telephoned the McHenry County Sheriff's Dept. and left a message for Officer Cruz, who was identified to me as the spokesman for the I.C.E. unit; that's Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I began writing an article on detention and deportation efforts in McHenry County and wanted some detail about the operation being run at the McHenry County Jail.

Recently, the Northwest Herald reported that the County receives $8,000,000 in Federal funds. I am curious as to whether the entire amount is for the ICE unit, which I had heard earlier this fall had 206 prisoners detained.

When Officer Cruz had not returned my call by December 13, I called and left another message. Even though I referred to my October 30 message and that I hadn't heard from him, he still has not called. Law enforcement agencies hate FOIA requests, which consume manpower and time to complete; however, when they ignore requests for information, a FOIA Request is the next logical step.

I believe the County residents/taxpayers are entitled to basic information, such as when the ICE unit opened; what its capacity is; where detainees (prisoners) would be held if not in the McHenry County Jail; what percentage are from McHenry County; how many visitors are accommodated and when; whether visitors are screened for legal residence, presence in the U.S. or outstanding warrants; how long detainees are held; and how many detainees have been deported.

If the County doesn't have this information, what accountability is there for the operation of the ICE unit? How many employees are assigned to the ICE detention unit? What is its cost of operation? What is the per-diem for detainees? What amenities do they have?

There is no doubt that we do not run a bare-bones operations like that in Maricopa County, Arizona, where prisoners live in tents and don't get the royal treatment. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says, "If you don't like it here (in his jail), don't come back." Do detainees in McHenry County Jail get nourishing meals three times/day? Have exercise equipment? Color TV?

Are they treated better than the County's homeless population - legal residents of the U.S.? This answer is definitely YES, because they are inside and warm.