Mar 31, 2019

Orange County ends contract with ICE to expand mental health services

ICE grievance box in the high security unit at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange County. Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

The Orange County Sheriff's Department in California will end its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will no longer hold ICE detainees at its jails, ABC's local affiliate KABC reports.

Details: The sheriff's department said the move will save the county $80 million and that it will use the funds to expand mental health and drug rehabilitation services for inmates. ICE will have 120 days to move the 670 detainees currently being held at two of Orange County's jail facilities. ICE criticized the decision in a statement, saying that the agency will have to depend more on its national system for bed space, "reducing the opportunities for in person family visitation and attorney coordination."

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