Rutherford Co. Applies To Process, Detain Undocumented Immigrants

June 21, 2007 05:56 PM PDT



MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- Rutherford County will join Davidson County's lead in going after undocumented immigrants who break the law.

The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office is applying to use the federal 287(g) program. It will give Rutherford County correction officers the authority to act as immigration officers, once immigrants are booked into the jail.

This comes just two months after Davidson County began using the same program.

The sheriff's office is responding to the high number of undocumented immigrants who are being booked into the jail. Their hope is to only identify and deport those undocumented immigrants who break the law.

In 2006, 986 undocumented immigrants were booked into the Rutherford County Jail. To date, this year, 506 undocumented immigrants have been booked in.

The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said because of the large number of illegal immigrants booked into the jail they may be eligible for a federal grant that will offset the cost to house and care for them.

Officials said they will not discriminate as to which immigrants they arrest and who they will process through the federal program.

"Hopefully these folks won't be here and if they do make it across they may be less prone to come here and commit crimes because they know we have this program in place," said Rutherford County Sheriff's Department spokesman Dan Goodwin.

The 287(g) program has been on the books since 1996. But it wasn't until 2001 that states began using it. Since then, 11 states have put it into effect. There are four counties in Tennessee that have applied for the program.

The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office will train 10 correction officers this October. The program is expected to begin this fall.

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