Houston County Sheriff removes ‘ICE’ decals from patrol cars after confusion

The sheriff says the decals, created in 1999 for Interstate Criminal Enforcement, were pulled to protect deputies and their families.

HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Houston County Sheriff’s Office recently removed “ICE” decals from patrol cars after some confusion and negative comments on a social media post.

Houston County Sheriff Matt Moulton says the decals were removed strictly because of office safety. 

Moulton says the ICE decals stand for Interstate Criminal Enforcement and that they were never meant for immigration enforcement. He says the decals were created in 1999 for criminal efforts on I-75. Sheriff Moulton says the decal confusion was brought to his attention through social media but adds the decal isn’t something new. 

“The unit was created in 1999, and those decals have been on the cars since 1999,” he said. “It’s a two-man unit. They’re assigned to our narcotics division. So, since 1999, we’ve had two deputies assigned to the interstate law enforcement team.”

He says those deputies focus on criminal activities on the interstate and highways. 

“They do drug interdiction, they look for human trafficking, drug trafficking, smuggling, wanted subjects,” he said. “People traveling with a suspended license, or no insurance on their vehicle, different types of crimes, traffic violations. That’s what their focus is.”

Sheriff Moulton says some reports show immigration officials and ICE agents have been targeted by cartels and gangs. 

“Our vehicles are assigned, so my deputies drive them to and from work, so at night when they get off from work, they drive them home and park them in their driveways,” he said. “And if the criminal element sees those cars with the ICE decals, I don’t want them mistaken for immigration officials and something happens to my deputies or their families.”

He says he just wants to work in partnership with the community.  

“My goal is to provide fair policing to all the citizens and visitors of Houston County,” he said. “If you are in the country or county illegally committing criminal acts, we’re going to deal with that. Were going to follow the protocol with the federal government, and they’re likely going to place detainers on the people and come get them for deportation. Were going to follow the law, but we’re going to be fair and impartial while we’re doing that.”

Moulton says this removal is not political at all and that it’s simply for safety reasons.