HOPKINS, Ky. (WFIE) - The Hopkins co. jail is utilizing a new federal contract to house inmates that have been detained by the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency, or ICE.

Over the years, the jail has been experiencing a steady decline in inmates.

Hopkins co. jailer, Mike Lewis, explained, “We’re a 416 bed facility and majority of my career we ran 400 most of the time, but since Covid, the state inmates has drastically reduced, which is a good thing for Kentucky that crime is down but there’s empty beds.”

To help offset the costs of empty beds, the jail is trying something new, they’re working with ICE.

“We went through the process of being vetted and selected as one of their facility,” said Lewis, “any revenue we can make from federal govt holding ice inmates is money that

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