A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official has been jailed in the same detention system he once oversaw, following allegations that he strangled his girlfriend earlier this month.
Arrest and Charges
Samuel Saxon, a 47 year old ICE supervisor based in Cincinnati, was booked into the Hamilton County Jail last week. A judge set his bond at $400,000. The arrest stems from a reported domestic violence incident on Dec. 5.
Saxon now also faces federal charges. Inmate records show he has been transferred into the custody of the Department of Homeland Security and moved to Butler County Jail, Ohio’s largest facility that houses ICE detainees.
Detained in an ICE Facility
The Ohio Immigrant Alliance said Saxon is now being held in what it called “the most notorious ICE prison in Ohio.” The group noted the jail has been the site of repeated protests against immigration enforcement practices.
In June, about 200 protesters gathered there demanding the release of a 19 year old immigrant detained after attending a scheduled immigration appointment.
Allegations of Lying to Investigators
Federal prosecutors allege Saxon lied to investigators examining the domestic violence claims. If convicted of making false statements, he could face up to five years in prison.
The Daily Beast has requested comment from the Department of Homeland Security.
Advocacy Group Response
The Ohio Immigrant Alliance said this may be the first known case of an ICE agent being incarcerated in a jail that holds ICE detainees.
Lynn Tramonte, the group’s director, said the arrest raises serious questions about ICE oversight. She said the agency has harshly portrayed immigrants who have not committed crimes while failing to adequately police its own staff. She added that this is not the first recent arrest of an ICE agent for gender based crimes.
Details of the Domestic Violence Case
According to police reports, a witness said Saxon placed his partner in a chokehold in the hallway of their apartment. Officers reported seeing bruises on the woman’s neck.
Police had reportedly responded to the apartment 22 times over a year and a half. Saxon has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
CityBeat reported that the woman suffered a broken nose in 2018 and a broken pelvis in April in attacks linked to Saxon. She has declined to cooperate with authorities in the latest case. Prosecutors are relying on witness testimony, according to Fox 19.
Background and Employment History
Saxon is an official with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Reports say he began dating the woman when she was 18 and he was in his 40s.
He is a two decade veteran of the agency and received an award in 2016 for long term contributions to ICE, according to a news release.
What Comes Next
Saxon learned he had been suspended by ICE while in custody. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 22.
The Daily Beast has previously reported that DHS raised concerns by fast tracking recruits through training, including some with pending criminal charges.
