CRIME TRACKER: Program deports violent criminals

CRIME TRACKER: Program deports violent criminals

By Ryan SimmsPublished: May 2, 2012 at 6:23 PM PDT

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash. -- KEPR is checking in on a program that's meant to deport illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes.

This is not your father's way of fighting crime. It starts with the simple scan of a fingerprint and ends with some of the Tri-Cities most dangerous prisoners being deported. It's called Secure Communities.

"If inmates aren't who they say they are, (Secure Communities) comes back and says who the person is," says Franklin County Sheriff Richard Lathim.

On any given day, there are an average of 30 illegal immigrants behind bars at the Franklin County Jail. To stem that tide, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement unveiled Secure Communities; a program that uses fingerprints to check an inmate's criminal history and then deports them if they're here illegally.

Nearly a year after Secure Communities came to the Tri-Cities, KEPR is looking into how successful it's actually been. Since July, we learned it has identified 434 illegal immigrants at the Franklin County jail. And of that total, more 120 were deported for violent crimes like rape, assault, and robbery. Authorities tell KEPR it's freed up space at the jail, while also saving precious time.

Within 15 minutes of passing through the doors at the jail, authorities are able to pinpoint who a criminal really is. That compares to the old days where it would take up to a month.

"It's just another layer of protection," Sheriff Lathim says. "They won't slip through the cracks."

Homeland Security pays for Secure Communities, so it doesn't cost Franklin County a dime.

The program has also been successful in Benton County.

Since July, more than 50 inmates have been deported from the Benton County Jail.

CRIME TRACKER: Program deports violent criminals | Local & Regional | KEPR CBS 19 - News, Weather and Sports - Pasco, WA

So 27.6 of illegals were deported, those with some history of violent crme (ladyhawk, hope you saw this). Article is unclear if those crimes are committed in US,for certain. Are the rest still in jail or released (most likely). This whole thing smells to me like rotten policy. Try violent criminals and deport the others would be more imprersssive policy. America is very sick!! This is what we get with higher education? Give me common sense, first!

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Originally Posted by kevinssdad

. . . illegals were deported, those with some history of violent crme (ladyhawk, hope you saw this). Article is unclear if those crimes are committed in US . . . Try violent criminals and deport the others would be more imprersssive policy . . .

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They were deported for previous crimes in the U.S. that they have already served their time for, not for current crimes. Being a CONVICTED criminal alien is what gets them deported. That isn't explained very well by this reporter in this article, but having read many articles makes it easier to figure out what the reporter left out. I hope my explanation helps.
And, YES, all of them should be deported.