Man Detained by ICE in Buncombe County
By Marge | Published 2025-08-26T21:30:34.802+00:00
News
Ashevile -- August 26, 2025 Amaya-Sanchez, 46, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Thursday, August 21, outside the Buncombe County Courthouse in Asheville.
The arrest occurred as Amaya-Sanchez was leaving the court-houe. This incident underscores the ongoing debate over the roles of federal and local law enforcement in immigration enforcement. The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Quentin Miller, has a policy of not partnering with ICE to enforce federal immigration law. This is why the arrest was carried out by federal agents in a public space, rather than inside a county facility. The Sheriff's Office has stated that its focus is o