The number of ICE detainees held in Kentucky jails has more than doubled, with nearly three-fourths having no criminal record or pending charges, according to an analysis by the League of Women Voters of Kentucky.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained 1,041 individuals in Kentucky jails in February, a sharp increase from 434 in September 2025, the League reported in a four-page analysis released last week.
Jennifer Jackson, the League’s president, said in a statement that Kentuckians deserve transparency about what is happening in publicly funded jails operated by local officials.
“The League of Women Voters supports immigration enforcement policies that ensure fair treatment and due process for all persons, including the right to a fair hearing, right to counsel, right of appeal, and right to humane treatment,” Jackson said.
The analysis also found a significant rise in detainees classified by ICE as “non-criminal,” increasing from 47% in September to 72% in February. Nationwide data also shows a growing share of those arrested have no criminal convictions or pending charges.
The group gathered the data independently from ICE and local jails, with figures dated Feb. 5 and Feb. 19, respectively. As of Feb. 5, the following county jails held ICE detainees totaling 1,041 individuals:
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Boone County Jail: 202 detainees
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Campbell County Detention Center: 140 detainees
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Christian County Jail: 104 detainees
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Daviess County Detention Center: 27 detainees
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Grayson County Detention Center: 158 detainees
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Hopkins County Jail: 167 detainees
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Kenton County Detention Center: 113 detainees
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Laurel County Correctional Center: 1 detainee
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Oldham County Detention Center: 128 detainees
Five jails with significant detainee populations are operating over capacity. Facilities in Grayson, Christian, Daviess, Kenton, and Boone counties are housing more individuals than their available beds. As of Feb. 19, the Grayson County Jail was about 42% over capacity, holding 759 people despite having 536 beds.
In a press release, the League said severe overcrowding “can create challenges to ensuring human dignity” and noted it is reaching out to local jail officials to better understand how conditions affect detainees.
The group plans to release updates to its analysis and is urging residents to ask local elected officials — including county judge-executives, jailers, and magistrates — about detainee numbers, jail conditions, detainee rights, and the financial impact on counties.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have introduced several bills aimed at requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE, though none have received a committee hearing so far during the 2026 legislative session.
Rep. TJ Roberts, R-Burlington, filed House Bill 47, which would require Kentucky State Police posts to enter 287(g) agreements with ICE, allowing local officers to assist with immigration enforcement. He has also said he is working on broader legislation to mandate cooperation statewide.
Other related proposals include House Bill 361 from Louisville Republican Rep. Jared Bauman, House Bill 76 from Roberts, and Senate Bill 86 from Pikeville Republican Sen. Phillip Wheeler.
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy has also analyzed ICE arrest data and tracked 287(g) agreements across the state. The group reports that 30 such agreements are in place, including with four local jails: Grayson County Detention Center, Kenton County Detention Center, Oldham County Detention Center, and Bullitt County Detention Center.
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