After a fatal crash in Savannah, here's what to know about ICE enforcement in Beaufort County

After the fatal crash that killed Savannah special education teacher Dr. Linda Davis — caused by a driver fleeing federal immigration officers — Beaufort County’s active agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement is drawing scrutiny and concern from civil liberties advocates.In July 2025 the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office signed a 287(g) agreement under ICE’s task force model, making it the only local law enforcement agency in the Lowcountry and coastal Georgia authorized to conduct immigration enforcement and arrests on ICE’s behalf. The agreement trains and deputizes local officers to act as “force multipliers” for ICE.Under the task force model, local deputies gain broad authority, including the ability to question anyone they believe to be an alien about their citizenship status, process immigration violations for people arrested on state or federal charges, serve and execute immigration-related warrants, and make warrantless arrests when there is reason to believe a person has violated immigration law and is likely to flee before a warrant can be obtained.“In theory they are ICE agents, because they can go up to anyone and ask about their immigration status,” said Dulce López, Immigrant Rights Advocacy Strategist for ACLU.The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina has warned the arrangement could interfere with routine policing and erode community trust. “Policing should be left to our local police who know the community and have the trust of community members,” said Lopez. Lopez added that adding federal immigration duties requires additional training and responsibilities that local law enforcement are not ideally positioned to carry out.Lopez and other advocates argue the agreement discourages immigrant community members from reporting crimes, seeking help as victims of domestic violence, or testifying as witnesses, saying those protections are key to public safety.ICE records indicate 37 agencies across South Carolina have signed 287(g) agreements; 20 of those operate under the task force model, the agency said.WJCL 22 News reached out to Sheriff Tanner for comment on the Beaufort County agreement and the concerns raised by civil liberties groups; he was not available for comment.