http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /607140438

Article published Friday, July 14, 2006

Illegal immigrants keep Seneca Co. jail filled


TIFFIN - Tougher enforcement of the nation's immigration laws sometimes causes the Seneca County jail to overflow with inmates.

Sheriff Tom Steyer said yesterday the jail, completed in 1994, often exceeds its 112-inmate capacity, because of roundups of illegal immigrants by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

The jail in Tiffin is one of a handful in the state under contract with the agency to house its inmates, Sheriff Steyer said.

Earlier in the week, the jail held 201 inmates, but several groups were sent to airports to be flown to centers run by ICE in other states.

Officials for the federal agency did not return calls seeking comment.

The county is paid $55 a day for each inmate detained. When the jail exceeds capacity, Seneca County sends inmates held on local charges to Putnam County, which charges Seneca County $45 a day.

Despite those extra costs, the contract with the immigration agency has proved lucrative.

"We're making money, and we're keeping our employees working," Sheriff Steyer said.

When the jail begins reaching capacity, the gym is used to house nonviolent offenders.

A year ago, the county commissioners decided to build a 60-bed addition to the jail, mostly to house federal immigration detainees.

The $1.9 million addition is expected to be completed by November.