“Everybody knows, we have our own issues. Again, the jail escapes last week, not one, but two. The 76 deaths in custody,” Commissioner Alisa Simmons said.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Tarrant County commissioners are set to vote on whether to expand the sheriff’s contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It’s a move that would allow deputies to investigate, arrest and search for undocumented immigrants beyond their county jail relationship with ICE.

Commissioner Alisa Simmons said she opposes the expansion, even though an existing agreement already allows the county to help ICE with detainees.

“Tarrant County has its own problems to fix and deal with operationally,” Simmons said.

Simmons cited recent incidents in the county as reasons to reject the proposal.

“Everybody knows, we have our own issues. Again, the jail escapes last week, not one, but two. The 76 deaths in custody,” Alisa Simmons said.

There have been protests locally and nationwide in recent weeks following the killing of American citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis, with thousands of citizens demanding ICE out of their cities.

Most recently, North Texans have also been protesting in response to reports of a proposed ICE detention facility in Hutchins.

The proposed expansion would be funded through a $100,000 federal grant, paying deputies $64.64 an hour to assist ICE.

Simmons shared her public survey with WFAA ahead of the vote, with more than 2,600 people responding. She said 98% opposed expanding the ICE sheriff contract. The survey had 2676 participants, with 2541 responding NO to the proposed contract expansion and 135 responding YES. The survey also allowed respondents to add comments.

One of the survey respondents who supported the expansion was Mike Vinez, who said he believes in backing law enforcement at all levels.

“We should support law enforcement,” Vinez said.

Vinez was among the 135 people who responded yes to the expansion.

“There’s a, a consciousness, um, that I have about helping law enforcement, whether it’d be on the local or the state or the federal level,” Vinez said.

Commissioner Matt Krause said he supports expanding the partnership, arguing it would benefit the county.

“This partnership is going to be a net benefit for all of us in Tarrant County,” Krause said.

Krause said having local deputies work alongside ICE is an advantage.

“Our deputies do know our county, do know our area better than maybe somebody coming in from the outside,” Matt Krause said.

If the vote favors expanding the ICE Sheriff contract, Krause vows to monitor the impact on the Tarrant County community and the actions of Tarrant County Deputies assisting ICE.

“In Tarrant County, we can be very assured and confident that Sheriff Weyburn, DA Sorrels, and those who work for them are doing a good job of keeping us safe,” said Krause, “As a commissioner, you have to continue to have oversight over every decision that you make.”

Although Simmons said she expects the expansion to pass despite her objections, she hopes the public feedback will still have an impact.

“That’s not what’s gonna happen,” Alisa Simmons said.

The vote is expected during Tuesday’s Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting.