Hardesty wants more federal help to deal with illegals

By Walt Reichert/Sentinel-News Editor - Friday, September 21, 2007 9:35 AM EDT

Shelbyville Mayor Tom Hardesty Wednesday asked the Simpsonville City Commission to join him in seeking more federal immigration enforcement officials to serve the area.

"It's a real drain on local resources," Hardesty said of illegal immigrants in the community who break laws. "We're struggling every day to keep the city safe. We need more help from the feds."

Hardesty asked the commission to send a letter to the state's Congressional delegation asking for more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to serve the community. ICE will not reveal how many agents work the region for security reasons, but it is believed there are one or two serving the Louisville area.

"We have ICE agents working in the community, just not enough of them," Hardesty said.

Hardesty also asked fiscal court on Tuesday to send a resolution asking for more ICE agents to serve the community. The Shelbyville City Council has approved a resolution asking Hardesty to send the letter to Kentucky's Congressional delegation.

Hardesty said since March approximately 100 illegal immigrants have been detained after they have been arrested for other crimes and sent to Grayson County where they are held for possible deportation.

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