A look at illegal aliens in the Charleston Co. Jail

April 17, 2009 05:25 AM CDT

April 17, 2009 05:28 AM CDT

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - They are housed in unit 3-H of the Charleston County Jail. Illegal aliens charged with crimes in South Carolina, sent there from all over the state by Immigration Customs Enforcement, ICE.

The folks who run the jail say most are there for the less serious crimes.

"Typically they come under the radar of local law enforcement because of some criminal offense and when they're arrested it's discovered they're an illegal alien," said jail administrator Mitch Lucas.

They are treated like any other inmate. They are given a handbook in Spanish and they have access to counselors and other services. The corrections officers assigned to the unit speak Spanish for security reasons.

"They are inmates and you don't want them to be able to communicate with one another and the officer having no idea what's going on because they may be planning an escape or assault," said Lucas.

Corrections Officer Jaclyn Myers says the illegals are among the best behaved inmates.

"Most of them are just ready to get back to Mexico. They'll tell you they're ready to go home," she says.

But it may be a while before they get to go home.

"Someone who is arrested for state charges or local charges, those charges are dealt with before they become an ICE detainee or if they're deported," Lucas stressed.

That means there's no free ride for the illegals, but it's a deal for county taxpayers. ICE pays $55 a day to Charleston County to keep the illegals locked up.

Posted by Logan Smith



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