Topeka, KS — August 25, 2025 — The Shawnee County Adult Detention Center has logged yet another immigration hold, signaling the growing partnership between the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the August 25, 2025 Daily Booking Report, Freiman Yahve Nunez-Rojas, 40, was booked in the early hours of Sunday morning by the Kansas Highway Patrol on multiple charges, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI), speeding, and transporting an open container of liquor. Alongside those charges, the jail report shows a “Hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement — NO BOND”.
Part of a Larger Trend
This marks at least the second documented ICE hold in Shawnee County in recent months. Earlier this year, signs of federal cooperation began surfacing in jail logs before the official July 10 announcement that the Sheriff’s Office had entered into a 287(g) Task Force Model agreement with ICE. That agreement authorizes trained deputies to act under federal supervision to identify, detain, and assist with the deportation process for individuals flagged by ICE.
Under the 287(g) Task Force program, ICE officers train and certify local deputies to enforce certain federal immigration laws within county facilities, effectively deputizing local law enforcement to operate under federal guidelines.
Community Concerns
The agreement has raised community questions and concerns. Immigrant rights advocates in Topeka worry about potential racial profiling and diminished trust between residents and law enforcement. Local civil rights organizations argue that cooperation with ICE discourages undocumented residents from reporting crimes, accessing public resources, or cooperating with law enforcement.
Sheriff Brian Hill has defended the arrangement, stating in July that the program is designed to “keep the community safe by identifying individuals who are in violation of federal immigration laws and pose a safety risk.”
Next Steps
With this latest booking, the Sheriff’s Department is expected to transfer custody of Nunez-Rojas to ICE, pending disposition of his local charges. Advocates have signaled plans to monitor booking logs closely as part of an effort to track how the agreement is impacting Shawnee County residents.
This story is part of This Is Topeka’s ongoing coverage of immigration enforcement and its implications in the capital city.
