Thread: Va. Crime Commission Approves Crack Down On Illegal Immigran

Va. Crime Commission Approves Crack Down On Illegal Immigrants
Measures Would Make Va. One Of Toughest States In Nation

POSTED: 6:11 pm EST November 13, 2007
UPDATED: 7:23 pm EST November 13, 2007


RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia's crime commission Tuesday unanimously approved a series of recommendations to crack down on criminal illegal immigrants, News4's Julie Carey reports.

The crime commission proposals are a blueprint for the upcoming general assembly session.

Now they will be turned into proposed legislation which, if approved, would make Virginia one of the toughest states in the nation in efforts to detain and deport criminal illegal immigrants.

The crime commission estimates nearly 14,000 illegal immigrants spent time in Virginia's local jails and detentions centers last year, but few were deported.

"The problem is anybody who receives less than a year is going into jail, and they are getting right back out into the community, and we're looking to see how many of those people we can detain and deport," said Del. Dave Albo, R-Fairfax County.

Some local detention centers, like the one in Prince William County, have already taken steps to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to screen inmates to see if they are here illegally. The crime commission approved series of recommendations to require all jails to do the same.

Under the plan, jails and the state Department of Corrections would check the immigration status of those arrested who are born outside the United States.

Lawmakers also want to create a list of serious offenses for which ICE will guarantee it will detain and eventually take custody of offenders for deportation. Additionally, jailed illegal immigrants would not get bail unless ICE officials refuse to take custody of them.

"What we want is, what part of that population can we get the federal government to live up to its responsibility which is to deport them," Albo said.

But the commission also learned from ICE officials that there is limited funding and a limited number of beds. The federal government will not be able to pay for detention of all criminal illegal immigrants, such as those arrested for DUIs or shoplifting.

"It's on a priority basis. Those on the highest threat to national security, public safety are those who will receive the highest priority consideration for detention at any given time," said ICE's William Reid.

Even some immigrant advocacy groups support a crackdown on some criminals. Yet they and some lawmakers worry the recommendations do not have any protections for victims and witnesses.

"My concern is that just sort of the gossip and all the rumors will start and people will be afraid to come forward. They'll be afraid to help police. They'll be afraid to protect themselves when they're victims, and a bad situation will get worse," said state Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax County.

The crime commission is also urging the governor to get the state police enrolled in a special agreement with ICE, but a spokesman for the governor said state police already cooperate with ICE in investigations.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/14587443/detail.html

But the commission also learned from ICE officials that there is limited funding and a limited number of beds. The federal government will not be able to pay for detention of all criminal illegal immigrants, such as those arrested for DUIs or shoplifting.

Bull Sh_t

I moved this to vent out in the open