ICE Hold Appears in Shawnee County Booking Report Amid New Trump Orders
TOPEKA, KS — April 30, 2025 — A recent booking report from the Shawnee County Department of Corrections includes a notable entry: a “Hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement” (ICE) listed among the charges for 23-year-old Emmanuel Rodriguez-Maldonado. This appears to be the first publicly visible ICE hold recorded in Shawnee County booking logs in recent months, raising questions about whether local law enforcement has renewed or expanded its cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Rodriguez-Maldonado was booked on April 29, 2025, at 4:10 p.m. by the Kansas Highway Patrol (agency code KSKHP0000), according to public records. He faces a charge of “Obstruction; Hunting, Fishing, Furharvesting” and has no listed bond for either that charge or the ICE hold.
This booking comes just as President Donald Trump signed a new series of executive orders on immigration enforcement, including one directive that seeks to “unleash local police” in assisting federal immigration efforts. While Trump also cautioned against “overreach” by ICE, critics and legal analysts have noted that the new orders may revive or expand the controversial 287(g) program — a federal-local partnership allowing sheriff’s departments to act as immigration agents.
Unanswered Questions
At this time, it is unclear whether the ICE hold on Rodriguez-Maldonado originated directly from ICE or if Shawnee County officials have entered into any formal or informal cooperation agreements. There is no public announcement of a new 287(g) agreement in Kansas, but cooperation between law enforcement agencies does not always require formal contracts.
The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and Topeka Police Department have not publicly stated whether they are currently assisting, detaining, or transferring individuals on ICE’s behalf. Inquiries to both agencies are pending as of publication.
Why It Matters
Local enforcement of federal immigration law has long been a polarizing issue. Advocates argue that involving local police in federal immigration actions erodes trust in communities, especially among undocumented residents who may hesitate to report crimes. Supporters of such cooperation argue it enhances public safety by removing individuals they deem as threats.
With the inclusion of this ICE hold in the public booking report — a rare sight in recent years — Shawnee County residents may be seeing the early effects of a broader federal-local enforcement shift.
What’s Next?
“This is Topeka” will submit a request for comment to confirm whether Shawnee County or the Topeka Police Department has recently modified policies around immigration holds or federal cooperation. We will update this story as new information becomes available.
If you have information related to immigration enforcement or ICE activity in the Topeka area, we invite you to contact us confidentially or submit a tip at [email protected].
