Illinois Valley Times

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reported that it has housed one undocumented immigrant with a deportation hold since July 2021, incurring a cost of $50. This information was released through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted by the Illinois Valley Times.

"Pursuant to your FOIA request received today (see below), please find the following information," said Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Putnam County Sheriff's Office. "1 illegal alien has been housed in our facility since 2021."

According to the FOIA response, the only undocumented immigrant held by the Putnam County Jail since July 2021 was Cecilio Martinez, a Mexican national arrested on September 8, 2023. He was subsequently picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the following day. The jail estimated the total cost of his stay at $50.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act requires public bodies to disclose public records upon request, barring certain exemptions. The law is designed to promote transparency in government operations and allows journalists to access data for public reporting purposes.

In Ohio, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said that since July 1, 2021, the Butler County Jail has housed 999 undocumented immigrants with ICE holds, costing taxpayers approximately $1,816,796.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is located at 120 N. 4th Street in Hennepin, Illinois. It serves as the county’s primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas and oversees the local jail built in 2005 with a capacity of five beds. Sheriff Joshua B. Boedigheimer leads the office after being elected in 2022 following longtime Sheriff Kevin Doyle's tenure. The office handles public safety, court processes, foreclosures, and jail operations.