Resolution confirms Red Willow not a 'sanctuary county'

McCOOK, Neb.— At the Monday meeting of the Red Willow County Board of Commissioners, the board unanimously approved a resolution clarifying that Red Willow County “is not, nor has it ever been a sanctuary county.”

The resolution asserted that “the County of Red Willow in Nebraska does not have laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from ICE.”

The resolution specifies, “It is Red Willow County’s policy to fully cooperate with the federal authorities, including and without limitation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in performing those duties and responsibilities imposed upon the federal government by federal law to curb and control illegal immigration into the United States of America.”

Recent concerns about “sanctuary counties” in Nebraska stem from a website produced by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) that identifies “cities, counties, and states [that] have laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — either by refusing to or prohibiting agencies from complying with ICE detainers, imposing unreasonable conditions on detainer acceptance, denying ICE access to interview incarcerated aliens, or otherwise impeding communication or information exchanges between their personnel and federal immigration officers.”

Many of those listings, however, have been posted without the permission or intent of many of the jurisdictions listed. Commissioner Ted Gans explained that CIS is “supposed to be a nonpartisan organization” that keeps track of counties not in good standing with ICE.

Commissioner Gans explained, “The reason they would be not in good standing is either they do not have a detention facility, or if they’ve ever released an illegal immigrant on bail or bond or did not hold them.”

ICE requests that if law enforcement encounters someone believed to be an illegal alien, they contact ICE to confirm whether or not they should be held for deportation.

“So in a roundabout way,” Gans explained, “this Center for Immigration Studies has a website where they are basically letting the illegal immigrants know certain counties that they are probably not going to get arrested or detained in.”

Red Willow County was not on the published list, but the resolution was introduced as a preventative measure. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote.

Earlier in the meeting, the commissioners voted to refund $956.18 for a land assessment error, where dry land had been mistakenly taxed at irrigated land rates. Additionally, two mobile homes were removed from the tax rolls as they had been torn down.

County Treasurer Linda Parde, filling in for Crystal Deck, presented Resolution 1541 to strike personal property taxes for a mobile home on leased land, resulting in a $50.95 tax reduction. Parde also reported on 21 unsold tax sale certificates totaling $10,634.36.

Following that, the board held two hearings—one for the 2024-25 budget and another to set the final tax request. Although no public attendees were present, the board unanimously approved several resolutions.

These included adopting the new budget and transferring funds, such as $669,747 from the general fund to the road and bridge fund and $609,000 from the inheritance fund to the general fund.

A proposal to purchase a front-mount retriever for road maintenance was tabled after reviewing bids from Nebraska Machinery and Murphy Tractor, with prices at $22,730 and $24,135 respectively. The commissioners decided to gather more information before making a decision.

The device is designed to conserve gravel by pulling it from the edges of the road to the center.

The board also approved several consent agenda items, including accounts payable and payroll claims totaling $895,248.11, which included significant expenditures for a motor grader purchase and a bridge replacement on Road 404. Additionally, the commissioners signed a $110,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for child support enforcement.

The meeting concluded with correspondence, including a tax appeal notice and a claim for damages to a phone line.

The next commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for Oct. 7.