SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — The Sevier County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday morning that it planned to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sheriff Michael R. Hodges, Jr. also signaled strong support for immigration enforcement.

SCSO is committed to joining the 287(g) program along with other law enforcement agencies like the Knox, Cumberland, Grainger and Morgan County Sheriff's Offices. SCSO is pending final approval, Hodges said. This program allows officers to enforce limited immigration authority during routine police duties.

SCSO added that it was already working with ICE in the interim by sending reports to the Tennessee District Attorney General’s Office Conference with lists of people who had been arrested who couldn't prove they were in the country legally.

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