⛓️ THE HUB: Sherburne County Jail (ICE Detention)

Target: Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office & Board of Commissioners

2026 Status: Active Detention Site Revenue Anchor: ~$11 Million/year from ICE/USMS contracts.

The Physical Engine of Removal

The Sherburne County Jail in Elk River is the “warehouse” for ICE in Minnesota. Under a lucrative federal contract, this facility houses hundreds of detainees daily. While the County Board views this as “easy revenue,” it creates a massive legal and moral liability for local taxpayers.

The 2026 Friction Point: The jail is currently seeking federal Byrne Justice Grants for a “sallyport restoration” (Project Point of Contact: Sheriff Joel Brott). This renovation is designed to streamline the movement of federal detainees. If we block the funding or the local permits, we slow the engine.

The Action Plan

1. Clog the “Open Forum” (Board of Commissioners)

The Board meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 9:00 AM. They are legally required to hold an “Open Forum” for public comment.

• The Action: Register to speak (3-minute limit). You can sign up in person at the Government Center or use the Online Request to Speak Form by 8:00 AM on meeting days.

• The Talking Point: “I am a taxpayer. I oppose the use of county infrastructure for federal immigration profiteering. I demand a full fiscal audit of the jail’s ‘hidden costs’—including increased insurance premiums and legal liability—that offset the ICE revenue.”

2. Trigger an “Administrative Audit” (Data Practices Act)

Under the Minnesota Data Practices Act, the Sheriff’s Office must provide public data upon request.

• The Action: Submit a formal data request to Records@co.sherburne.mn.us.

• The Request: “Under MN Statutes Chapter 13, I request a summary of all ‘bed-night’ revenue generated from Contract IGSA-ICE-SHERBURNE for the last 6 months, and all incident reports involving use-of-force against federal detainees during that same period.”

• The Friction: Processing these requests requires staff time and creates a public record of jail conditions that can be used for litigation.

3. Target the Elected Official (Sheriff Joel Brott)

Sheriff Brott is an elected official. He answers to voters.

• The Action: Call 763-765-3500 and ask to leave a message for the Sheriff.

• The Script: “I am calling regarding the ‘Commitment to Service’ mission of your office. Profiting from a facility that lacks basic outdoor recreation for federal detainees is a violation of that integrity. I will be voting and organizing based on your office’s continued cooperation with ICE.”

📊 LOG YOUR IMPACT BELOW

Did you attend a board meeting or send a data request? Use the Action Log below to report it. We are tracking the number of public comments made at every 2026 Board meeting.

Direct Contact for Friction:

• Sheriff Joel Brott: 763-765-3500 | sheriff@co.sherburne.mn.us

• County Records Dept: 763-765-3569 | Records@co.sherburne.mn.us

• Protest Hub: Weekly Wednesday vigils at 13880 Business Center Dr NW.

Why this works:

• It targets the money: By focusing on the “Byrne Justice Grant,” you give activists a specific thing to stop (the renovation).

• It creates work: Data requests and public comments are “administrative friction”—they make the ICE contract more of a headache than it’s worth.

• It uses the 2026 calendar: Listing the exact Tuesday meeting dates makes it easy for people to plan their attendance.