Sarpy County Jail Begins Housing Inmates for ICE

Sarpy County Jail has started housing inmates for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of an agreement between the county and a federal agency according to publicly available detainment records.

Sarpy County Jail/NOSS Media archives.

The arrangement apparently allows ICE to place individuals in custody at the Sarpy County facility while they await immigration hearings or transfer to federal detention centers. The possibility of this occurring was first reported by The Nebraska Examiner in August of 2025. 

The partnership differs from neighboring Douglas County, which recently declined to move forward with an ICE housing proposal. Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson stated, in a memo, that he urged Douglas County Commissioners to enter into an agreement because it would allow those who are detained to remain within their own community rather than being transferred hours away to other facilities. Further, he claims the revenue to the county from such a contractual arrangement could be reinvested into protecting the public, the mission of the DCSO, tax relief, and services to the very immigrant community impacted by these federal actions. 

In a response to Sheriff Hanson’s memo, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners said it would not support an ICE housing contract, citing humanitarian concern, cost inefficiencies, and a belief that federal immigration reform, not local detention agreement, offers a more effective path forward.

At the time of this article, Sarpy County Jail is currently housing at least 17 individuals who have entered the country illegally per court and/or ICE documents. Several individuals are currently charged with other felonies and are being held by the US Mashal Services with ICE detainers.