Mystery Surrounds Detention of Dozen Hispanic Men in Flagler County Jail

A dozen Hispanic men were briefly held at the Flagler County Jail before being transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raising questions about the circumstances of their detention and the role of local law enforcement.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the men were booked on August 31 around 5 p.m. and released to ICE the following afternoon. Each was listed as a “fugitive from justice,” though no specific charges or warrants were disclosed. The booking report identified Deputy Erickson as the officer who brought the men in, but the sheriff’s office has yet to clarify his involvement or the nature of the arrests.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported the basic facts of the transfer but omitted several critical details:

🕵️ What the Daytona Beach News-Journal Did Not Report:

• Possible Agricultural Raid: Immigration attorney Kelvin J. Daniels speculated the men may have been detained during an ICE raid on local agricultural operations, such as fern farms or cabbage fields along State Road 100. This theory suggests a coordinated enforcement action, not random arrests.

• Courtesy Hold Classification: The men were held under a “courtesy hold,” a designation that typically implies temporary detention at the request of another agency. This raises questions about whether ICE initiated the arrests or merely responded after local law enforcement detained the individuals.

• Lack of Transparency from ICE: ICE spokesperson Christopher Meares stated he had no information about the detainees and could not confirm whether they were part of an ICE operation or picked up by local authorities independently.

• Impact on Families and Legal Access: Daniels emphasized the hardship faced by detainees and their families when individuals are moved across state lines without notice. This practice complicates legal representation and support systems, especially when detainees are relocated to distant facilities.

The Sheriff’s Office has not released further comment, and ICE has remained silent on the men's current whereabouts. Advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability, especially given the scale and ambiguity of the detentions.

📌 This story is developing. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.