KCSO's Commitment to Justice
KENT COUNTY, Mich: The Kent County Sheriff's Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ruby Garcia. We are committed to ensuring justice is served in this tragic case. KCSO emphasizes its steadfast commitment to operating within the framework of the constitution and legal requirements, ensuring the due process and civil rights of all individuals are respected. Our collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other law enforcement agencies is integral to our operations. These partnerships are crucial for maintaining community safety and facilitating the secure transfer of individuals of interest.
Although the Michigan State Police is leading this investigation, it was discovered that Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a 25-year-old man from Puebla, Mexico, had prior interactions with the Kent County Sheriff's Office. Ortiz-Vite was identified as an illegal immigrant when he was previously incarcerated at our facility in 2020. Records indicate that Ortiz-Vite had an ICE detainer filed against him, leading to his release into ICE custody and subsequent deportation. This procedure is consistent with KCSO's standard operations and policy. The handling of Ortiz-Vite's case mirrors several others, where KCSO legally detains individuals based on proper legal documentation provided by a law enforcement agency, without infringing on due process.
KCSO treats all law enforcement agencies equally, granting them all access to our facilities for the purpose of questioning and further investigating people in our custody. We share the community's concern regarding the potential for dangerous individuals to reenter our community after being lawfully removed. In response, KCSO has diligently transferred individuals with ICE detainers to their custody. In 2023, a total of 26 individuals with an ICE detainer or notice of intent from ICE to assume custody, who were detained in the Kent County Correctional Facility, were transferred to ICE upon completion of their out-processing. Since January 2024, an additional 10 individuals have been similarly transferred to ICE.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office is committed to transparency and collaboration with all law enforcement agencies, including ICE, to safeguard our community while upholding the highest standards of legal and ethical responsibility.
|
