Duplin County Sheriff’s Office applies for illegal alien grant

By Chris Berendt
Friday, August 10, 2007 11:50 PM EDT
http://www.clintonnc.com/articles/2007/ ... tory61.txt

KENANSVILLE — The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office has successfully applied for an illegal alien grant, which will act to assist in the costs the county agency incurs in housing inmates who are found to be staying in this country illegally.

The Sheriff’s Office was one of only 801 eligible local entities across the United States that successfully applied for the monies. There were 3,140 agencies eligible for the grant, county officials noted.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the award of $22,728, which will act to reimburse some of the costs of incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens who have committed serious crimes in the United States. The program has as its goal to enhance public safety in communities throughout the nation.

According to Duplin Sheriff’s officials, the opportunity to receive funds originated from federally-mandated programs that the county is providing at local cost.

“The federal government drives local political entities to assume more responsibility for the administration and delivery of government services,â€