2020
Closing Arguments in Public Records Lawsuit
January 24, 2020
During the closing arguments in the lawsuit over the sheriff's withholding of public records, the County Deputy Law Director draws attention to a subsection of state statue that she argues, permits KCSO to charge for records inspection, despite the 2008 state comptroller's report that says otherwise. The Chancellor is not convinced and states, "apparently the Open Records Counsel disagrees with you there... because they say you cannot charge for inspection." The rest of the arguments center on KCSO's "email retention policy, how requesters are at a disadvantage when asking for records... and how the sheriff's office wasn't deliberately withholding emails" from Dr. Meghan Conley (70).
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AKIN Posts Updated Infographic on Knox County Inmates with ICE Holds
March 25, 2020
AKIN posts an updated infographic on Knox County Inmates with ICE holds. The data shows that the majority of charges that result in ICE holds are misdemeanors and nonviolent (75).
(75) Updated Infographic: Knox County Inmates with ICE holds
Meghan Conley Wins Lawsuit Against KCSO
April 13, 2020
Knox County chancery court judge rules against the Knox County Sheriff's Office. He rules:
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the Knox County Sheriff's Office cannot charge people to inspect public records
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KCSO must create a system where TN residents can access redacted arrest records on a current basis
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Conley should receive a copy of everything she was "wrongly denied" including all 48-hour holds issued by ICE since 2017, copies of all monthly detention invoices since 2017, any copies of arrest or detention records Conley deems necessary
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KCSO shall pay all of Conley's court costs (71).
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To read about the next update in this case, click here.
(71) Knox County Sheriff's Office 'wrongly denied' access to open records;
Photo Credit: MIchael Patrick
Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors, ICE Out of East TN, and Students for Migrant Justice Launch End 287(g) Campaign
April 13, 2020
The Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors, ICE Out of East TN, and Students for Migrant Justice launch a month of "socially engaged, but physically distant, campaigns to urge Sheriff Spangler to decline to renew Knox County's 287(g) contract" (76).
(76) 287g is up for renewal. Here's how YOU can help.
April 13, 2020
The Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors, ICE Out of East TN, and Students for Migrant Justice launch a petition to urge Sheriff Spangler to not renew the 287(g) contract. They say "287(g) harms our community, falsely portrays undocumented people as dangerous, and separates community members from their families." The petition receives over 1,000 signatures (80).
(80) 2020 End 287(g) Petition
Rights Groups to Sheriff Spangler: Do Not Renew KCSO's 287(g) Contract
Leave a Message for the Sheriff to END 287(g) Action
April 13, 2020
The Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors, ICE Out of East TN, and Students for Migrant Justice encourage people to leave Sheriff Spangler a message to end 287(g). They provide Sheriff Spangler's office number and website for people to contact him (81).
(81) 2020 Leave a Message for the Sheriff
End 287(g) Art Challenge
May 3, 2020
The Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors, ICE Out of East TN, and Students for Migrant Justice host an end 287(g) art challenge. Folks are asked to "create a drawing, painting, sign, sculpture, chalk art, or any other type of expression that celebrates the diversity of the Knoxville area" (82).
(82) 2020 End 287(g) Art Challenge
Banner Dropped on University of Tennessee Campus
May 3, 2020
A banner is dropped on the University of Tennessee's campus that reads "Spangler NO 287g" (83).
(83) 2020 Banner Dropped on UT Campus
Sheriff Spangler Renews 287(g)
May 13, 2020
Sheriff Spangler renews the 287(g) contract. The 2020 contract does not require renewal—"rather than expiring after one or two years, the current contract will exist in perpetuity." Sheriff Spangler now must withdraw from the program to end the contract (78).
(78) 2020 287g MOA
End 287(g) Car Rally
May 15, 2020
(85) 2020 Car Rally 1
(86) 2020 Car Rally 2
The Allies of Knoxville's Immigrant Neighbors, ICE Out of East TN, and Students for Migrant Justice host an end 287(g) car rally. The rally drives through downtown urging Sheriff Spangler to withdraw from the 287(g) contract. The names of the 1,000 people who signed the end 287(g) petition are also read in front of his office (85).
Banner Dropped in Knoxville
May 15, 2020
A banner is dropped on The Hague Drive that reads "END 287g Withdraw now Spangler" (84).
(84) 2020 Banner Dropped in Knoxville
Detention Bed Funding is Set at $94,952 for Next 12 Months
May 15, 2020
KCSO orders 1,144 detention beds from ICE for the next 12 months. The reimbursement rate is $83 per bed per day, making the total 12-month funding allocated for the detention bed contract $94,952 (50).
(50) Detention Bed Funding is Set at $94,952 for Next 12 Months
Knox County Sheriff Won't Appeal Ruling Requiring Better Open Records
May 19, 2020
Sheriff Spangler says he will not appeal the court's decision requiring him to create a better public records system. The judge also awarded Dr. Meghan Conley attorneys fees, which have not been determined; however, "county taxpayers will likely pay more than $25,000" (72).
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To read about the next update in this case, click here.
Immigration Attorney Responds to Spangler's Renewal of 287(g)
July 8, 2020
Hammad Sheikh, a Knoxville immigration attorney, writes an editorial responding to the renewal of 287(g) for AKIN's website. He says the renewal "will have dire consequences for our community." He goes on to discuss the role of undocumented people in our community and the impact of COVID-19 of detention facilities. He also notes that "there is no evidence that 287(g) decreases crime" and "287(g) makes us all less safe by placing our vital undocumented neighbors in compromising circumstances" (79).
Community Vigil: Withdraw from 287(g)
August 1, 2020
A community vigil is held outside of Sheriff Spangler's church to demand that he withdraw from the 287(g) contract (87).
(87) Community Vigil
(87) Community Vigil
(87) Community Vigil
Knox County Featured in Netflix Documentary "Immigration Nation"
August 3, 2020
In episode 3 of Netflix's "Immigration Nation," Knox County's 287(g) program is highlighted. The episode depicts the 2018 287(g) steering committee and community outrage to the program (111).
Sheriff Spangler Responds to Community Outrage
August 19, 2020
Sheriff Spangler responds to the community outrage over his renewal of the 287(g) contract. He says he has been listening to the requests to rescind the program "via phone calls, emails, letters and protests." He goes on to state: "Not only will I not rescind the contract with the 287(g), but I will sign the renewal each time it is up as long as I am sheriff of Knox County in furtherance of my duties and responsibilities to protect the citizens of Knox County" (88).
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Note: The 2020 287(g) contract does not require renewal.
(88) Sheriff Spangler Responds to Community Outrage
AKIN Releases Report on 287(g) and Detention Bed Contract
September 25, 2020
AKIN releases a report focusing on 287(g) and the detention bed contract to highlight "the expanding role of the Knox County Jail in supporting ICE's efforts." The report outlines the programs, analyzes arrest and detention data, and notes recent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Knox County Jail detention data (77).
(77) AKIN 2020 Report
ICE Contracts with Metropolitan Knoxville Generate
Fear with Rural Immigrants
November 30, 2020
An article published in The Daily Yoder outlines how Knox County's contracts with ICE impact the surrounding counties. Hammad Sheikh, an immigration attorney, says the contracts and recent immigration raids create "an atmosphere of fear" in rural areas. He notes that although the 287(g) contract is only active in Knox County and Greene County, people from surrounding counties are at risk by solely driving through these counties. The article concludes by stating there are "no benefits for the county" from the 287(g) agreements and notes that urban counties are removing themself from agreements (89).
Knox County Sheriff's Office Ordered to Pay $78,000
in Losing Open Records Lawsuit
December 1, 2020
The Knox County Sheriff's Office is ordered to pay $75,202.50 in attorneys fees to Dr. Meghan Conley after wrongly withholding public records from her. Dr. Conley is also awarded $2,805.25 personally. She states: "I hope that the Knox County Sheriff's Office will take this seriously and make necessary changes so that others don't have to file a lawsuit to get public records." The chancellor says the lawsuit "involved the navigation of a saga of requests and denials" and was consistently adversarial (73).
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To read about the next update in this case, click here.