- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Blountville Today
By the People, for the People
Sullivan County Sheriff's Office to Receive Funding for ICE Partnership
Funding will support the department's participation in federal immigration enforcement programs.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office is set to receive over $200,000 in federal and state funding to support its partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The funding will be used to purchase equipment and vehicles for deputies trained under the 287(g) program's Task Force Model to assist ICE with immigration enforcement activities.
Why it matters
The sheriff's office's participation in the 287(g) program and its partnership with ICE has been a source of controversy, with concerns raised about the impact on immigrant communities. The additional funding will strengthen the department's capacity to carry out immigration enforcement, which some view as a concerning expansion of local law enforcement's role in federal immigration matters.
The details
The first resolution would accept $145,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the 287(g) program to purchase a Ford F-150 and equipment for six deputies trained under the program's Task Force Model. The second resolution would approve about $69,000 from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security through the state's Immigration Enforcement Grant Program, mostly for a vehicle and related equipment for immigration enforcement operations.
- The sheriff's office began participating in the 287(g) program last year.
- The county commissioners will vote on the funding resolutions at their regular business meeting next Thursday.
The players
Sullivan County Sheriff's Office
The local law enforcement agency that has partnered with ICE and participates in the 287(g) program.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, which has partnered with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office.
Hunter Locke
A county commissioner who sponsored the resolutions to accept the federal and state funding.
Angela Taylor
The Sullivan County Trustee who has worked to establish an Advanced Payment Policy for property taxes.
Kristy Tizzard
A Sullivan County Sheriff's Office detective who completed certification under the 287(g) program's Task Force Model.
What they’re saying
“What Angela's done is given taxpayers a choice to make payments on their taxes during the year while they've got the money. A lot of taxpayers have been asking to do that.”
— Hershel Glover, County Commissioner (timesnews.net)
What’s next
The county commissioners will vote on the funding resolutions at their regular business meeting next Thursday.
The takeaway
The additional funding for the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office's partnership with ICE raises concerns about the expanding role of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement, which has been a source of controversy in the community. However, the county is also taking steps to make property tax payments more manageable for residents.
