IL - Latino groups rally to protest sheriff's detention policies
3 hours ago • By Edith Brady-Lunny
Pantagraph
BLOOMINGTON — Advocates for McLean County Latino residents are looking for changes in local law enforcement practices that they say pose an unfair deportation threat to illegal immigrants, but the county’s top law enforcement official is defending the policy.
A rally organized by Latinos United for Change to mark International Workers Day attracted about 100 spectators Tuesday at the McLean County Museum of History — a site chosen by supporters to represent the contribution immigrant workers have made to the community.
Members of LUC, Illinois People’s Action and several other groups criticized the policy of the McLean County jail to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for all individuals born outside the U.S. as a means to verify identification.
Advocates said the families of illegal immigrants often are caught in a broken federal immigration system that has seen a shift toward deportations in the past year.
The wife of an illegal immigrant told the crowd that her husband was held by ICE after a traffic stop and sent to Chicago, a trip that resulted in stress on the family, a $180 bond and $176 in impound fees for his vehicle.
“This incident has disrupted all our lives,” said the speaker.
Following the rally, the group marched to the sheriff’s department where they left a gift-wrapped box covered with handwritten notes urging Emery to change his policies.
Sheriff Mike Emery cited data Tuesday that he argues support the need to verify identification and criminal histories. Of the 118 individuals held on ICE detainer orders issued from July 2011 to April 2012, 61 percent had multiple aliases and 58 percent had prior arrests in McLean County, according to the data.
The federal government does not disclose its reasons for detainers.
Emery said the jail policy avoids possible discrimination. Before the department changed its policy last year, the decisions to contact ICE could have been based more on suspicion than fact, said Emery.
“I would rather be challenged over a nondiscriminatory policy than not challenged on a policy that discriminates,” Emery said.
McLean County has been paid almost $90,000 since 2006 by the federal government to house inmates for the 48 hours they are held until immigration officials arrive. One person was released after ICE missed the deadline, said Emery.
ICE detainees
From July 2011 to April 2012, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued detainers or federal holds for 118 individuals in the McLean County jail:
61% were known by multiple aliases
58% had prior arrests in McLean County
28.75% were arrested on criminal charges
58.25% were arrested on jailable traffic charges
12% were arrested on both criminal and traffic charges
Agencies responsible for the 118 arrests:
Bloomington Police: 38%
Normal Police: 21%
Sheriff’s Dept.: 27%
Other agencies: 13%
Source: McLean County Sheriff’s Department
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Latino groups rally to protest sheriff's detention policies : Pantagraph.com | Central Illinois
