The vote came after over three hours of a public comment period from residents who were overwhelmingly opposed to the county partnering with ICE. 

Per the agreement, ICE’s Warrant Service Officer Program and a Task Force Model will authorize the Sheriff’s Office to serve and execute administrative warrants on undocumented immigrants in their custody and allow them to enforce limited immigration authority while conducting police duties, according to ICE. 

The commission also approved an interconnection security agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and ICE. 

These agreements don’t change much of how the sheriff’s department operates, according to Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith, who said only a limited number of deputies will be involved in the Task Force Model. 

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

Smith said the main purpose of the partnership is to formalize procedures and offer transparency between the Sheriff’s Office and ICE as his office continues to target crime. 

“We are now on a playing ground with (ICE) that I can coordinate and I can be aware of activities,” Smith said. “If things are happening in this community that I’m not OK with, like ICE raids, we’re going to address those with ICE.”

County officials said ICE is already in Utah County, but that the agreement sets up rules for the federal agency to follow while operating in the county. According to Commissioner Skyler Beltran, those include a requirement to provide an interpreter if a person does not speak English, civil rights protections and a complaint process. 

“I keep hearing we’re inviting ICE, we’re not inviting ICE,” Beltran said. “We’re actually saying that these are rules to come into our community that we need you to understand.” 

The agreement was presented in front of a large crowd of citizens that stretched into the lobby of the Utah County Government Building. 

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

Several people applauded when Smith said, “I’ll just tell you right off the top, I’m not comfortable with ICE raids. I’m not and I have assurance from ICE that they will not happen here.” However, many voiced their distrust in ICE during a public comment period that stretched from 2:20 p.m. until after 6 p.m. 

“If (Sheriff Smith’s) authority to keep ICE in check is challenged, what is the plan for that?” Provo resident Shay Chestnut said. “It seems to me that from the federal government and from our president, that he thinks that ICE officials have total control.” 

Another Provo resident, Aaron, said, “With all of the insanity going on with ICE around the country, I cannot support a partnership with someone that has proven themselves to be so untrustworthy all across the country.” 

There was a sense of fear expressed from many people who spoke regarding deportations. 

“No one should be afraid to go to work to pick up their children or simply live a daily life,” Utah County resident Carmen Gonzalez said. “No one should live in fear of never seeing their family again.” 

Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner spoke prior to the public period and emphasized that the county will only work with ICE in cases where immigrants have committed crimes that threaten residents safety. 

“Our commitment is to public safety and not fear,” Powers Gardner said. “That’s why we made it explicitly clear Utah County will not participate in labor raids or immigration raids.”