Who we are: 

We are a nonpartisan grassroots group formed to resist Butler County’s ICE contract that allows the county to hold immigrant detainees in the Butler County Jail. We advocate for immigrants who are detained without a chance to be heard in a court of law and pose no threat to our common welfare. By using the Butler County Jail as an ICE detention center, Butler County is participating in an unjust system that harms our country and our community.

Our goals:

• To terminate Butler County’s contract with ICE to hold detainees in the Butler County Jail 
• To raise awareness with the Butler County Commissioners, and with the public, of the enormous negative impact to our community when there is aggressive arrest, detention, and deportation of people who have committed no crime other than being undocumented.    

What we stand for:

• Justice and due process for all, including the right to a fair hearing, right to counsel, right of appeal and right to humane treatment.
• Fair and humane immigration laws that treat individuals and families with respect and dignity. 

What we stand against:

• Treating individuals with undetermined legal status as criminals
• Incarceration of these individuals in the Butler County Jail
• Forcible separation of families
• Racial and ethnic profiling in ICE arrests

What you can do:

• Attend commissioner meetings and state your views. Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at 9:30am in the Government Services Building at 315 High St. in Hamilton. Check the commissioner website for schedule changes due to holidays, etc.
• Call the Butler County Commissioners office at 513-887-3247 and voice your views.
• Write a letter to the editor; share your views with friends

Contact us:

ButlerCountyImmigrantJustice@gmail.com

Did you know….

• Reporting has shown that only 8% of the individuals detained by ICE in the Butler County Jail have a criminal record other than being undocumented.

• Given the contract that has been signed, people arrested in nearly any state can be held in the Butler County Jail until ICE decides to release or remove them. This means that people can be held for days or months. 

• 10 Butler County sheriff deputies have received certification to act as ICE agents.

• ACLU reports that ICE contracts with sheriffs have a history of eroding public safety, imposing heavy financial burdens on localities, and leading to civil rights violations.

• The number of individuals in the ICE section of the jail fluctuates but is 300- 400 per day. Butler County was paid $68 per day for each detainee as well as $36 per hour for transportation provided by a corrections officer or deputy.  In October 2025, this contract was updated to $105 per day for each detainee and $47 per hour for transportation. This presents an enormous financial incentive for our county. Sheriff Jones is quoted in the linked article: 

Jones told the Journal-News recently that he expects the revenues for this year will be $3 million higher than projected at roughly $11 million. Next year, with roughly 500 — between ICE and U.S. Marshals — paid federal inmates, they could reach $20 million to $22 million with the rate hikes.

“In the last 20 years, we’ve brought in over $200 million,” Jones said. “That’s a lot of zeroes.”

• The Carnegie Corporation debunks 15 common myths on immigration in a nonpartisan article that can be accessed at this link. 

Please send inquiries to: ButlerCountyImmigrantJustice@gmail.com