Neither of the two candidates for Buncombe County sheriff would sign a agreement 287(g) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allows local agents to assume immigration enforcement functions.
That's what they told Enlace Latino NC the sheriff Quentin MillerThe Democrat seeking a third term, and the Republican candidate, Gary Parris, retired Navy veteran and former county Sheriff's Office agent.
Miller responded with a resounding no. “No. I’ve said I wouldn’t sign a 287(g) and I haven’t changed my position,” he stated. “ICE doesn’t make our community safer by targeting people for the skin color“Furthermore, he assured that his office will continue to arrest anyone who commits a crime, regardless of their immigration status, with priority given to violent crimes and drug trafficking.
Parris also ruled out the agreement, but emphasized state law. “No, I will not sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE,” he responded. “As sheriff, I would not enforce federal laws, but I would be responsible for enforcing all state laws and local ordinances,” he added.
Cooperation with ICE is not dependent on who wins. It's governed by state law. HB 10 y HB 318The sheriff must comply with ICE detention orders and hold for up to 48 hours the people the agency requests.
In Buncombe, 75 people were subject to one of these orders between October 2025 and March 2026, more than 80% for minor offenses or infractions, according to an analysis of county jail records.
El 287(g) programHowever, it is voluntary for sheriffs. In North Carolina, 22 sheriff's offices have a current agreement with ICE, according to the agency's official list updated as of October 20.
Signing these types of agreements is one of the few decisions regarding ICE that state law still leaves in the hands of the sheriff who wins the election. November 3 elections.
The candidates' full answers
Enlace Latino NC He sent the same questionnaire to both candidates, with the same conditions for responding. Their responses are published in full and in alphabetical order by last name, except for a reference to one of their campaign websites.
Why do you want to be sheriff of Buncombe County and what would you bring to the office in the next term?
Quentin Miller: I am proud to serve as Buncombe County's first African American sheriff and am seeking a third term to continue implementing 21st-century policing principles.
I bring experience. During my time as sheriff, we faced COVID and the Hurricane Helene, two major events that tested my leadership.
Among my most significant contributions to our community as sheriff is the expansion of the DWI Task Force. In 2020, thanks to a grant of over $408,000 from the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office was able to establish its own task force.
I also prioritized the analysis of rape evidence kits. In 2021, then-North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein awarded me the prestigious Dogwood Award.
I will continue with these priorities and more.
Gary Parris: I was born in Buncombe County and graduated from North Buncombe High School in 1975. I attended Montreat Anderson College on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1978. My professional career began in 1981 with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office. In 1983, I joined the United States Navy, where I served with honor for the next 22 years in the cryptology and intelligence communities, retiring with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8).
I hold a Master's degree in Strategic Intelligence and a Master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Criminal Justice Administration. In 2022, I retired with the rank of captain from the Virginia Department of Correction. I was a guard commander at a Level 5 maximum-security prison, responsible for daily operations and the safety of approximately 1,500 employees and inmates.
In counties as large as Buncombe, today's sheriff is like the CEO of a corporation. Having law enforcement experience is valuable; however, the sheriff's primary role is that of an administrator. Managing a $56 million budget, leading a department of over 400 people, securing resources, and directly overseeing the detention centerCivil prosecution, court security, and patrolling require someone capable of strategically planning for the continued growth and modernization of their Sheriff's Office.
My academic background and the experience I gained in my military and civilian careers make me the most uniquely qualified and well-rounded candidate for the position of Sheriff of Buncombe County. As your Sheriff, I will make Buncombe County a sanctuary and a haven for the citizens who live and work here, not for criminals.
What knowledge or relationship do you have with the Latino community in Buncombe County?
Quentin Miller: I am proud to have hired members of the Latino community to work at the Sheriff's Office. These individuals have facilitated important meetings with community organizations that represent and advocate for our Latino community. They have also helped me understand the community's needs on a personal level. I have my own experience as a Black man, but I don't know what it's like to walk in a Latina woman's shoes unless I ask.
Gary Parris: Many Latino families live and work here in Buncombe County in various industries, including restaurants, construction, agriculture, and hospitality. These individuals and their families are the backbone of these and many other services and businesses, and they share the same expectations for safe communities, safe families, safe schools, and safe places of worship. As sheriff, I will serve and protect everyone.
How would you build trust and community engagement among Latino, immigrant, and other minority communities in the current climate?
Quentin Miller: Again, what I've done is go into the community and meet with people. Outreach and communication are key. I've done my best to achieve that.
Gary Parris: The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in the entire county, and the Sheriff's Office belongs to everyone, including deputies and arrest officers. To restore trust and communication, I will maintain constant contact with the community through public meetings, a Sheriff's Citizen Academy, bilingual communication, and open channels of dialogue.
We will improve our public information efforts so residents understand what we do and why. This will include a free, bilingual Spanish-language mobile app to help the Sheriff's Office better communicate with our Hispanic neighbors. This app will offer security updates, traffic information, and public safety alerts.
I will also seek out and hire a bilingual public information officer and create a victim services unit that will work directly with victims' families to help them navigate our local justice system.
Trust is built through consistency and fairness. When all members of our community see professionalism, accountability, and a willingness to communicate and listen, relationships improve. Public safety works best when law enforcement and our entire community work together.
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If elected sheriff in the next term, will you sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE? We ask for a yes or no answer, with your reasoning. If yes, which model?
Quentin Miller: No. I've said I wouldn't sign a 287(g) and I haven't changed my mind. I'm going to be direct and put it simply: ICE doesn't make our community safer by targeting people because of the color of their skin. If someone in our community has committed a crime, regardless of their immigration status, my office will arrest them.
Gary Parris: No, I will not sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE. I want to point out that HB 10 clearly states how the 100 sheriffs of North Carolina must cooperate with ICE. If a sheriff does not comply with this law, he is directly violating it. No one, including the sheriff, is above the law.
As sheriff, I would not enforce federal laws, but I would be responsible for enforcing all state laws and local ordinances to protect everyone, and that is exactly what I will do.
There is a lot of fear in our communities, and this can be attributed to a lack of communication. I will launch a robust bilingual website to keep our citizens informed. Once my media policy is finalized, I will hold a roundtable discussion with my staff and the media. The media, through its journalists, provides an invaluable service to the community by acting as watchdogs on behalf of the citizens. An honest and open working relationship, including media representatives from all of our minority communities, is in everyone's best interest. As sheriff, I will make this a top priority.
What role do you think the Sheriff's Office should play in enforcing immigration laws?
Quentin Miller: My job as sheriff is to arrest people who have committed crimes. My priority is violent criminals and high-level drug trafficking.
We must ensure that every resident of our community feels safe and comfortable reporting a crime if they are a victim. For this reason, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office has adopted specific policies regarding U and T visas.
Editor's note: the U visas y T Miller mentions that these programs protect victims of certain crimes who cooperate with authorities and victims of human trafficking, respectively. To apply for a U visa, the victim needs certification from a law enforcement agency, such as the sheriff's office.
Gary Parris: I would not enforce the law on behalf of ICE. I would be responsible for enforcing all state laws and local ordinances. HB 10 outlines how the 100 sheriffs of North Carolina must cooperate with ICE.
As sheriff, I will communicate transparently with all law enforcement agencies and our citizens to make our county safer and have a better future for all.
My top priority will be filling the 80 vacancies and fixing our dysfunctional jail system. The ongoing staffing shortage in our sheriff's office has left our detention center understaffed by approximately 50%, the most dangerous in the state. There is almost no patrolling for the nearly 185,000 people who live in our county's rural communities. We can do better. I see what's happening, I know what needs to be done, and I have extensive experience implementing solutions to the public safety problems we face.
Writing Note: according to data that the Sheriff's Office shared with Enlace Latino NC The detention center has 38 vacancies out of 186 positions, about 20%, compared to the 50% mentioned by Parris. The agency reports a total of 76 vacancies. Parris told this publication that he stands by his figures and that they are based on press reports.
*The responses were translated from English with the help of artificial intelligence, with minor clarity adjustments, and reviewed by the journalist to respect the original meaning of each statement.
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