Thread: Pr. William turned over more than 2,000 suspected illegal im

Pr. William turned over more than 2,000 suspected illegal immigrants to feds
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
March 11, 2010

Prince William County has turned over more than 2,000 suspected illegal immigrants to the federal government since July 2007, according to the county jail superintendent.

The county issued 2,352 detainers and released 2,091 inmates to Immigration and Customs Enforcement from July 2007 through January 2010.

In 2007, Prince William began participating in a federal program that allows local law enforcement officials to enforce certain federal immigration laws. There are currently 63 active partnerships in the program, known as 287(g), according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Last fall, the county supplemented its 287(g) partnership with a program called Secure Communities, which allows local jails to check arrestees' fingerprints against biometric-based immigration records held by DHS, as well as criminal records held by the FBI.

"Some jails just operate only with Secure Communities; we added it to our 287(g)," said Col. Pete Meletis, superintendent of the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center. "It's another database that gives us more information for our staff to be able to do their investigations and determine whether ... someone is illegal or not."

Loudoun County, which also participates in the 287(g) program, has turned over 418 inmates to ICE from 2008 through Feb. 22 of this year. Loudoun entered into the partnership in 2008, but does not currently participate in Secure Communities.

Loudoun County, which also participates in the 287(g) program, has turned over 418 inmates to ICE from 2008 through Feb. 22 of this year. Loudoun entered into the partnership in 2008, but does not currently participate in Secure Communities.

In Maryland, Montgomery County, which does not participate in either program, reports illegal immigrants to ICE only if they are arrested for violent or handgun-related crimes. The Montgomery County attorney has backed the policy over complaints from the police union that the mandate is unconstitutional.

John Morton, assistant secretary for ICE, has said that the agency plans to introduce Secure Communities into every jurisdiction in the country. The agency expects the program to be expanded nationwide by 2013. In addition to Prince William, Fairfax County and the District of Columbia are also currently enrolled in the program.

"It has been great," said Fairfax Sheriff Stan Barry. "Compared to the 287(g) program, it is really excellent."

Fairfax has released 1,101 inmates to ICE since entering into the partnership -- which does not require additional county funds -- last March.

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"John Morton, assistant secretary for ICE, has said that the agency plans to introduce Secure Communities into every jurisdiction in the country. The agency expects the program to be expanded nationwide by 2013. In addition to Prince William, Fairfax County and the District of Columbia are also currently enrolled in the program.

""It has been great," said Fairfax Sheriff Stan Barry. "Compared to the 287(g) program, it is really excellent.""

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Secure Communities into every jurisdiction in the country by 2013. This is good news! But why does it take 3 years? Ugh. These are criminals that could do a lot of harm between now and then and there's soooooo many of them.