HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett spoke before county commissioners Wednesday to address concerns about immigration enforcement, including the recent presence of federal agents at a construction site off of East Brainerd Road. We obtained video of that interaction that appears to be a search by ICE at a sub-division development.Sheriff Garrett confirms he was told it was immigration activity that took place at the construction site off East Brainerd Road involving task force members, including Bradley County constables."The operation yesterday was not local law enforcement. The information that I received, and I will verify it was immigration and their task force members, which includes some Bradley county constables who are operating outside of Bradley County," Garrett says.Screengrabs via anonymous viewer.According to ICE, Bradley County constables have a task force agreement with the federal agency.That agreement allows trained officers to assist ICE with certain immigration enforcement duties outside of a jail setting.Sheriff Garrett says Hamilton County’s agreement with ICE is different."The only agreement that I've entered into is the 287 g model, and that consists basically of us completing some federal paperwork while they're actually in custody on state charges."During public comments at Wednesday's commission meeting, Jennifer Alexander described what she calls a troubling pattern in the community.“We are witnessing as our neighbors and local business owners disappear."Alexander criticized the county’s participation in the federal 287(g) enforcement program.With budget deliberations beginning in March, Alexander asked commissioners to reject any increase to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department budget beyond what is required by state law unless the 287(g) agreement is ended. Image via{ }Daniel PadronCommissioner Warren Mackey then asked Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett to clarify the department’s agreement with ICE and whether deputies were conducting work-site enforcement.“We’re not going to work sites,” Sheriff Garrett says. “The only agreement that I’ve entered into is the 287(g) jail model.”Sheriff Garrett explained that under the jail-based model, his office completes federal paperwork for individuals already in custody on state charges. He says arrests are made based on state law violations and that individuals who cannot provide valid identification must be booked to verify their identity, regardless of nationality.image (28).png“When someone’s arrested, it doesn’t come into consideration who they are,” Garrett says. “They’re treated fairly.”He emphasized that once an arrest is made and a person is booked, decisions about dismissing charges are up to prosecutors and judges. Federal holds, the sheriff noted, can be placed by various agencies, including ICE, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI or the DEA.Sheriff Garrett also defended his office’s transparency, saying he proactively releases documentation about jail operations so the public and media have access to the information.Image: WTVC"I understand people having emotions on both sides of this issue, but I'm the only Sheriff's Office to my knowledge across the state that produces the documentation so the public has it, so the media that's in the room doesn't have to follow up with an open records request. And I do that intentionally so the taxpayers of this county can see the operations of the Sheriff's Office. And I will not apologize for it."When asked about allegations of targeting or racial profiling, Garrett responded directly: "It does not happen.”The sheriff also mentioned that at one point, the federal government asked his office to build housing for ICE inmates."I refused it. I declined it. I don't believe it's the right model for this county. I don't believe it's something I should be doing. But what we are doing in the jail, completing paperwork, expedites the process for those who are facing an immigration issue," Sheriff Garrett says.We reached out to Bradley County Constable Daren Brantley twice Wednesday for clarification about that video of federal agents off of East Brainerd Road.We have not heard back.