County Sends Feds More Illegal Immigrant Suspects

Thursday, August 13, 2009; 8:47 AM

Montgomery County says its detention center has turned over 325 suspected illegal immigrants to federal authorities so far this year.

Department of Correction and Rehabilitation Director Arthur Wallenstein says that's a nearly 20 percent increase over all of 2008.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say more agents are being assigned to work with Maryland jails as part of a nationwide push to capture illegal immigrants.

ICE spokeswoman Gillian Brigham says Maryland has been targeted in the expansion, but a change in police policies could be playing a role in Montgomery County's increase.

County police recently began sending the names of suspects charged with certain crimes to federal authorities to check against immigration databases.



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