ARC-C Letter Expressing Concern Over Madison County Sheriff's Decision to Partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Through the 287(g) Program

Members of ARC-C submitted the following letter to the editors of Syracuse.com and the Cazenovia Republican in late July:
​On behalf of the Anti-Racism Coalition of Cazenovia (ARCC), we write to express deep concern over the Madison County Sheriff’s recent decision to enter into a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the 287(g) program. This agreement does not address any existing public safety concerns and it threatens the safety, cohesion, and civil liberties of our community.

The 287(g) program deputizes local law enforcement to perform duties typically reserved for federal immigration officers — often without sufficient training, oversight, or accountability. This blurs the line between community policing and federal immigration enforcement, creating conditions ripe for racial profiling, unlawful detentions, and violations of due process. When local deputies are empowered to question individuals based on immigration status, it increases the risk of targeting people based on language, appearance, or perceived foreignness — an unacceptable breach of civil rights.

Moreover, this partnership undermines public safety by damaging trust between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect. When people — especially immigrants — fear that any encounter with local police could lead to detention or deportation, they are far less likely to report crimes, testify in court, seek medical care, or access essential services. This silence does not make us safer; it makes us more vulnerable.

Our County Chair, James Cunningham, stated on July 21, 2025, that the sheriff has the legal discretion to enter into such agreements without public input or oversight. But legality is not the same as legitimacy. Major decisions that impact thousands of residents should not be made in isolation by one individual. A law enforcement policy that drives fear and division in our community cannot be justified simply by saying, “it’s allowed.”

The consequences also reach into our economy. Madison County farms, food producers, and small businesses rely on the labor of both documented and undocumented workers — many of whom are pursuing legal pathways to residency or citizenship. To criminalize these essential community members is not only unjust — it is economically short-sighted and socially destabilizing.

We call on Sheriff Todd Hood and all county officials to reconsider and reverse this harmful agreement. Public safety must be built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and community cooperation — not fear and surveillance. We further urge the town and village governments of Cazenovia to publicly reject the ICE partnership and affirm their commitment to inclusion, accountability, and the protection of all who call this place home.

Finally, we call for faith leaders, educators, farmers, health care providers, small business owners, advocacy groups, and concerned residents throughout Madison County to unite in demanding policies that reflect the values of human dignity, fairness, and mutual respect. We will strengthen our democracy by coming together.

Sincerely,

​Laura K. Reeder, Suzanne B Spring, Louise Brown Smith, Megan Kendzior, Phillip Hamilton, Jimmy Golub, Rebecca Garden, Wendy Everard, Rebecca Downing, Rosalyn Bandy, and Anita Bueno
Members of the Anti-Racism Coalition of Cazenovia (ARC-C)