Commissioners Authorize County Manager to Enter into Contract Extension with ICE

In a special meeting of the Torrance County Commissioners on October 29, 2025, the Commissioners authorized County Manager Jordan Barela to enter into a contract extension with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). County Manager Barela explained that he believed the authorization was necessary because the county's detention contract with ICE was set to expire on October 31, 2025.

"So like we've done in other situations with contract amendments, this request would be to make a motion to delegate signature authority to myself to execute that if [the ICE contract extension] comes in prior to the end of the week [the county manager could sign the contract extension without bringing it to the county commissioners for approval]. If it comes in after the end of the week and there's a lapse in the contract term, it will have to come back to commission for formal approval.

Commissioners Kevin McCall and Linda Jaramillo unanimously voted to approve delegating this authority to Barela. Chairman Ryan Schwebach was not present at this meeting.

The county commissioners also addressed a request to approve a medical and prescription drug coverage contract with United Healthcare. According to County Manager Barela, this would replace a current contract with Presbyterian Healthcare. Under the new contract with United Healthcare, county employees would see the same deductibles, but would see an increase in maximum out-of-pocket costs by $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families. Barela asserted that this was offset by the reduction in monthly premiums for county employees. Commissioners McCall and Jaramillo unanimously approved Barela entering into the contract on the county's behalf.

The commissioners did not allow public comment during the meeting.