ICE officers, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol perform enforcement operations in Delray Beach, Florida on Jan. 23.
Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement | ICE officers, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol perform enforcement operations in Delray Beach, Florida on Jan. 23.

UPDATE: The BayNet would like to clarify that while the Charles County Sheriff’s Office has not received any requests or calls to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in any neighborhoods, the agency does work with ICE in accordance with federal and state law. This cooperation is part of standard legal procedure.

LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Sheriff’s Office clarified that it has not been contacted or asked to coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following community questions raised during the Oct. 23 Police Accountability Board meeting about possible cooperation between local law enforcement and the federal agency.

Vice Chair Derrick Terry raised the question after receiving inquiries from residents who feared possible ICE operations in the county and wanted clarification on whether local officers were involved.

Major Joseph Pratta, assistant sheriff of administration with oversight of special operations and support services, confirmed that there has been no outreach or coordination from ICE to the Sheriff’s Office. He said the agency has not received any requests, communication or joint operations with ICE.

“We’ve had no outreach from ICE, and we have not changed the way we do business,” Dodge said. “As far as we’re aware, there have been no ICE operations in the county.”

Captain John Dodge, commander of the Office of Professional Responsibility, addressed recent social media posts claiming ICE was operating locally, describing them as “completely fictitious.” He emphasized that while CCSO regularly partners with federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), those relationships are limited to criminal task forces and do not involve immigration enforcement.

In a similar case, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office recently confirmed that no U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids were underway in Lexington Park, labeling circulating rumors “false.”

Watch the full discussion from the Oct. 23 board meeting live on Charles County Government TV (CCGTV) for complete context and follow-ups.


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Jessica Jennings, a Tampa, Florida native, brings a rich and diverse perspective shaped by her global experiences as a U.S. Navy veteran and military spouse. After joining the Navy at 19, Jessica’s service...

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4 Comments

  1. I didn’t think the jive 5 & Sheriff Berry would want ICE in Charles County. Too many of their friends, family & voters would be arrested…

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