Bluffton police can’t spare officers for an ICE agreement. An SC bill may make them

Immigration officers carried out an operation in Bluffton on May 29. The operation saw 15 arrested men led in and out of the Myrtle Park Government Center in Bluffton with Beaufort County Sheriff’s officers standing nearby. But the Bluffton Police Department didn’t know it was happening.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has a 271(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agreement allows BCSO officers to carry out the duties of an ICE agent. BPD does not have one of these agreements.

The Island Packet spoke to BPD Chief of Police Joseph Babkiewicz about the operation, and the department’s position on 287(g).

BPD and 287(g)

Babkiewicz said his department was not informed about the operation by federal or local agencies.

“We had no knowledge of that operation whatsoever,” he said. “Actually the first time I found out about it was when it was in the media.”

The operation occurred in Bluffton, but outside his department’s jurisdiction, Babkiewicz said. Some areas that appear to be part of Bluffton are not. Unincorporated areas are under the jurisdiction of the BCSO. The Myrtle Park Government Center is one of these places, and it’s just outside of Bluffton’s town limits.

A protest was held there last Friday against the operation with about 100 people. Babkiewicz said there was no BPD involvement in the operation.

BPD does not have a 287(g) agreement because the department focuses on fairly enforcing local ordinances and state law for the community, he said. The department is not seeking one at this time.

The department is understaffed and would have difficulty carrying out its mission if it had to assign staff to immigration enforcement, he said.

“Until we get to full staff, it would be very, very hard to participate in a program like that to begin with,” Babkiewicz said.

A bill has passed the State House of Representatives that would require law enforcement agencies to make 287(g) agreements. The bill is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee and has been read to the Senate. Babkiewicz said he was not aware of the bill.

If the bill becomes law, Babkiewicz said his department would follow it. A 287(g) agreement would require BPD to assign officers for training from ICE. The officers could then perform the duties of an ICE agent.

Read our previous reporting for more information about 287(g) agreements.