with ICE."

ICE spokesman Bryan D. Cox said the agency took Duran into custody Thursday following his release from the local jail. Cox said Duran is living in the country illegally.

"Mr. (Duran) was ordered removed from the United States by a federal immigration judge in January 2007 after failing to appear for his scheduled court date. He has been an immigration fugitive since that time," Cox wrote in an email.

In a phone interview Friday, Cox said Duran has a "final order of removal" pending against him. "Removal" means deportation.

“He’s been taken into custody to process him for removal," Cox said. He acknowledged detainees have a number of ways to appeal such an order.

Swatzell, Duran's attorney, said she doesn't want to comment on Duran's case until she's spoken with him.

Supporterstrack record of egregious human rights abuses.”

The local jail is run by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's spokesman Earle Farrell said Thursday, "As long as I've been here, we've never held anyone for ICE."

He also said the jail would have released Duran on bond earlier after his family paid the fee, but that he refused to sign the relevant papers. Duran's defense lawyer said Duran refused to sign because he didn't understand the document.

Farrell said the department would make jail officials available for further comment in coming days.

Duran was arrested Tuesday during a protest outside the criminal justice center at 201 Poplar.

Ironically, that protest focused on immigration detention and cooperation between local authorities and ICE. Protesters had put on costumes to play the role of an ICE