Ford County, City of Dodge City release joint statement concerning ICE presence

Ford County and the City of Dodge City understand that the events of the past two days have created fear, concern, uncertainty, and questions throughout our community.

We apologize for such a late response, but this situation developed quickly and continues to evolve without any notice to local law enforcement. The current immigration enforcement activity is being conducted by federal authorities without local law enforcement involvement. Please know that we see you, we hear your concerns, and we want to clarify that these operations are not initiated by us. If you see local law enforcement on scene, they have been dispatched by an emergency call.

We recognize that residents may have questions about what is occurring. While local law enforcement does not have operational control over federal enforcement activity, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office and Dodge City Police Department will continue working with each other to provide accurate information when it is available and to keep our community safe.

Our local officials have been in contact with our Federal and State legislators to share concerns, seek additional information regarding the current situation, and request assistance in keeping our communities informed.

Together we are dedicated to serving our communities with compassion and respect for all.