Thread: Jail space, money hobble local efforts to join federal immig

Jail space, money hobble local efforts to join federal immigration program
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIRO
843-706-8142
Published Saturday, October 27, 2007

Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said Friday that participating in a federal program that gives deputies increased authority to enforce immigration laws might be costlier than previously thought.

The program would allow local deputies to check immigration status during traffic stops or other infractions if there's probable cause that a person is in the country illegally.

About a year ago, the Sheriff's Office began looking into the Department of Homeland Security's 287(g) program. Run by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the program has been hailed by supporters who argue local law enforcement needs the power to detain and deport illegal immigrants.

It has been criticized by detractors who say it would lead to the increased profiling of the Hispanic community.

Such arguments may now be moot.

Immigration officials told Tanner earlier this month that certification into the program hinges on the county's ability to find more than 75 beds in its already overcrowded detention center to devote solely to holding illegal immigrants.

"The harsh reality is it comes down to funding and bed space," said Tanner. "Part of certification, unfortunately for us, calls for dedicated bed space for detainees ... ."

The county's detention center averages between 300 and 325 inmates on a given day, according to Tanner, well above the jail's capacity of 245.

"What you're talking about is building an additional facility on property we don't currently have," he said, "and building another 50- or 75-bed facility in Beaufort County would be extremely expensive and won't happen overnight."

Tanner and detention center director Phil Foot are scheduled to update the Beaufort County Council in mid-November on the pending request to join the federal program.

Council chairman Weston Newton said the county was already operating on a tight budget.

"Just to house the current population we have at the detention center requires money," he said.

"It's an issue that needs to be solved at the federal level," Newton added. "I'm holding out hope that the federal government and the state of South Carolina will look at funding this."

County administrator Gary Kubic said reforms being considered by the county for the detention center, including a work-release program for dead-beat dads, could free up space in the detention facility.

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/64220.html

I am beginning to believe if towns,counties or states are truely serious about cracking down on Illegal Aliens they would find a way.Those who say we can't just do not really want to enforce our laws !

There are several programs available even one which reimburses municipalities for housing those determined to be Illegal Aliens if incarcerated for 4 days for a felony or a 2 time misdemeanor charge.It's called SCAAP (State Criminal Alien Assistance Program) plus a program called CAP which is used successfully by many towns and does not cost much at all.