This page covers the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee. ICE’s list includes 287(g) agreements for the agency, shown in the table below (checked October 24, 2026). It brings together official sources for jail information and contacts.
The 287(g) agreements
| Model | Signed | County |
|---|---|---|
| Jail Enforcement Model (JEM) | 2020-06-08 | Knox County |
| Task Force Model (TFM) | 2026-09-11 | Knox County |
Source: ICE — 287(g) Participating Agencies (ICE list as of October 9, 2026, retrieved 2026-10-09).
The 287(g) and detainers guide explains the models in the table.
ICE’s Jail Enforcement Model MOA limits its delegated functions to officers assigned to detention duties during their work in the agency’s facilities. It lists authority to question people detained there whom the officer believes to be noncitizens about their right to be or remain in the United States, and to process immigration violations in those facilities, while under the direction and supervision of ICE (checked October 24, 2026).
What the Sheriff’s Office says
The Sheriff’s Office describes its video press release as featuring Tom Spangler, Knox County Sheriff, regarding a request to rescind the office’s 287(g) contract. The page is filed under August 2020 in the Sheriff’s Office News Room (checked October 24, 2026).
The jail
The Sheriff’s Office FAQ lists Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility, 5001 Maloneyville Road, Knoxville, Tennessee 37918, in its inmate-mailing instructions. It gives (865) 281-6700 as the Knox County Detention Facility contact number (checked October 24, 2026).
The FAQ says each facility has differing visitation schedules and regulations and directs readers to the KCSO Corrections page for details (checked October 24, 2026).
Official county jail information.
Detainers and release to ICE
ICE’s MOA authorizes participating officers to serve and execute warrants of arrest for immigration violations on designated people in the agency’s jail or correctional facilities at their scheduled release from criminal custody to transfer custody to ICE. After that transfer, it sets a limit of 48 hours in the local facilities unless an agreement provides for continued immigration detention for a reimbursable fee. Without such an agreement, it requires release from the local facilities if transfer to an ICE field office or immigration detention facility does not occur within 48 hours (checked October 24, 2026).
ICE offices for this area
Area office directory: ERO New Orleans.
Sources
- ICE: 287(g) Participating Agencies — list as of October 9, 2026; retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ICE: memorandum of agreement — retrieved October 24, 2026.
- Official county source — retrieved October 24, 2026.
- Official county source — retrieved October 24, 2026.
Related
- 287(g) and detainers guide
- New Orleans
- ICE detention in Tennessee
- Find an immigration attorney (no commission)
Last verified: 2026-10-24. General information, not legal advice. 287(g) agreements are signed and ended over time — verify your county’s current status via the table’s source link, and consult a licensed immigration attorney for any specific case.