Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones says the Trump administration went about immigration enforcement the wrong way early in the president's second term.

Jones made the remarks Wednesday, Sept. 23, in an interview first reported by WCPO, tied to the release of his new book, "They Call Me Jonesy: Let's Get Real About Saving America." He also disclosed that roughly 6,000 people had been deported from the Butler County Jail over approximately 18 to 19 months dating to early 2025 and that about 450 were being held on immigration matters at the time of the interview.

The criticism is notable given Jones's two-decade record as one of Ohio's most outspoken advocates for stricter immigration enforcement. The Butler County Sheriff's Office, which serves West Chester Township and Liberty Township, holds a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal program that lets trained local officers help enforce immigration law under federal supervision.

Jones told WCPO the administration has since changed personnel and adopted what he called a "softer approach," which he described as a "good approach." He was not rejecting the administration's broader goals. He still supports tighter enforcement and calls the country's immigration system broken.

"Did they go about it in the wrong way? Sure they did," Jones said.

He said he estimates 20 to 25 million people are in the country without legal status. Jones called that number his own estimate and said he does not believe Trump has deported even a million.

Jones said immigration drove Trump's 2024 election win, pointing to a figure of 78% of Americans wanting action on the issue. WCPO noted that a February 2024 Pew Research Center survey, now more than two years old, found 78% of Americans considered border migration a "crisis" or "major problem."

That figure does not equate to support for Trump's specific policies. The same survey found 56% said expanding legal immigration pathways would help.

Jones himself said the country should expand legal immigration while tightening enforcement against people who enter or remain illegally.

Jail conditions dispute

The deportation numbers come as Jones continues to push back against Ohio lawmakers who raised concerns about conditions at the Butler County Jail in Hamilton.

In January, state Reps. Christine Cockley and Mark Sigrist, both Democrats from the Columbus area, along with state Sen. Bill DeMora, also a Democrat, sent a letter to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). The letter cited a July 2025 state inspection that found the jail 49 inmates over capacity. The lawmakers said the population had grown to 1,045 inmates, or 289 over capacity, according to ABC 6.

Jones disputes those criticisms. He pointed to inspections by judges and other officials and said the jail is clean and the food nutritious. He called the three legislators "the Three Stooges" and their letter "the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life."

No response from the lawmakers or ODRC to Jones's Sept. 23 remarks appears in the available reporting.

Jones's book describes Trump as a "real leader." He told WCPO he likes Trump's bluntness and what he sees as positive economic developments. But he also urged bipartisan compromise, saying leaders from both parties should be put in a room and not allowed to leave until they reach an immigration deal.