NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia sheriff has ended an agreement with federal authorities to lock up people suspected of being in the United States illegally.

The Virginian-Pilot reports Norfolk Sheriff Joe Baron has for two years jailed detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in exchange for federal money. The detainees were typically held for a couple of days before being transferred to a long-term detention facility.

The contract rider with ICE ended on Tuesday, and Baron decided not to sign a new one. He declined to discuss the decision in an interview.

The sheriff has come under some criticism for the policy since the newspaper began reporting about it.

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