The Cascade County Detention Center in Montana is unique for its long-term immigration detainee contracts, driven by revenue needs, as explained by Sheriff Jesse Slaughter. At a county meeting, Slaughter stated, “Federal inmates bring in $55 more a day than state inmates,” underscoring the financial importance of these contracts to prevent budget shortfalls and maintain jail operations.
Community members voiced concerns over the growing immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, especially as the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office considers expanding immigration detention. In response, Sheriff Slaughter and County Attorney Josh Racki addressed the public’s concerns. They emphasized that a 2021 contract with the U.S. Marshals Service obligates the county to house certain detainees, including those awaiting immigration hearings or deportation, authorized by agencies like ICE.
The contract ensures a daily $115 fee per federal detainee, with more than 70% of the jail’s $14 million annual budget sourced from such inmate contracts. Sheriff Slaughter noted, “These decisions are based on public safety and fiscal responsibility, not political agendas.”
Locals, including faith leaders and political candidates, raised issues about housing federal detainees amidst chronic jail overcrowding. They also mentioned moral concerns regarding immigration enforcement affecting nonwhite and undocumented individuals, citing reports of routine check-in arrests and mistaken detentions of U.S. citizens.
The Rev. Lynne Spencer-Smith of the First Congregational United Church in Great Falls expressed disappointment with the county’s involvement, stating, “We say we want our community to be a welcoming community. I’m not sure that entering into an agreement with ICE and our current practices reflect such hospitality.”
In a notable case, Christopher Martinez Marvan, a Mexican citizen residing in Helena, was detained during a traffic stop intended for someone else. Despite local police plans to release him, federal agents detained him. Marvan, denied U.S. citizenship, was later transferred to another facility.
The detention center recently reported 305 inmates, including 96 under federal contracts with few related to immigration enforcement. As of Friday, six detainees were listed as “ICE — immigration inmate.”
Cascade County officials are exploring a new ICE contract, potentially adding 10 more detention beds. Sheriff Slaughter mentioned that this could increase revenue by $1 million to $2 million annually and help renegotiate U.S. Marshals Service contracts.
While discussing the current practices, Slaughter noted possible improvements, like opposing ICE agents’ use of identity-concealing masks, but emphasized the necessity of these contracts for the jail’s fiscal health, warning, “If we eliminate these federal contracts, the consequences are severe.”
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