Thread: Immigration program has its flaws

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Immigration program has its flaws
8/1/2006 8:36 AM
By: Shawn Flynn, News 14 Carolina

The sheriff blames Congress and the porous border security as reasons why deported criminals are back in a matter of days.

CHARLOTTE -- A new program designed to catch and deport illegal immigrants in Mecklenburg County is working, but the sheriff is now questioning the effectiveness of the whole system.

Rafael Vega, 56, was arrested two weeks ago for violating the open container ordinance. He was identified as an illegal immigrant and now faces deportation, but some say the system that would keep him from returning is still broken.

“Last week we arrested one that's been deported five times already and has been charged with four or five felonies -- everything including armed robbery, burglary, possession and the sale of heroin -- and he's right back here in the country,” said Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph.

Earlier this year, the sheriff's office trained 10 deputies and two sergeants as immigration customs enforcement officers. Since the program’s inception, 719 inmates were identified as illegals and 264 were processed for deportation.

Twenty-three of those 264 had been deported before, including Adrian Morales, who has been returned to his native Mexico more than 20 times. Pendergraph says some of these criminals know the immigration system better than law enforcement officers do.

“They'll voluntarily agree to be deported, visit their families for a little while and they're right back up here,” he said.

The sheriff says his deputies are swamped, and he blames Congress and the porous border security as reasons why deported criminals are back in a matter of days.

“The only change that's going to be made is with the public demanding change,” Pendergraph said.

Under the rules of this program, an illegal immigrant who commits a misdemeanor is released and told to report to a court in Atlanta for a deportation hearing. Pendergraph says many of them never make it to the hearing.

“Last week we arrested one that's been deported five times already and has been charged with four or five felonies -- everything including armed robbery, burglary, possession and the sale of heroin -- and he's right back here in the country,” said Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph.

Why isn't he in prison?

“The only change that's going to be made is with the public demanding change,” Pendergraph said.

That's why we're here.