Around New England

Barnstable County Gives Up Immigration Agreement Under New Democratic Sheriff

January 9, 2023

The Democrat elected sheriff of Barnstable County is ending the county’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sheriff’s deputies in Barnstable County, which covers Cape Cod, had authority to enforce federal immigration law under the agreement, which was made when James Cummings, a Republican, was the sheriff.

Donna Buckley, a Democrat, won election as sheriff in November 2022. She took office last week. She campaigned on a promise to end the agreement.

“This program has not proven to keep us safer and causes many living on Cape Cod to live in fear,” Buckley said in a written statement.

She signed the document terminating the relationship on Wednesday, January 4.

The sheriff’s offices in Bristol County and Plymouth County also had similar programs, but those ended in 2021, according to the Associated Press.