Thread: Illegal immigrants total 3 percent of serious-crime arrests

Illegal immigrants total 3 percent of serious-crime arrests in Prince William County

Washington Examiner
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
August 5, 2009

About 3 percent of individuals arrested for violent crimes in Prince William County last year were illegal immigrants, according to data released Tuesday.

Of nearly 2,000 people arrested for the most violent crimes -- which include murder, rape and aggravated assault -- from March to December 2008, 3.4 percent were in the country illegally, according to an interim report on the county police department's policy.

Seventy-six percent of illegal immigrants arrested during that time were charged with public drunkenness, driving without a license or driving under the influence, said the report from the University of Virginia's Center for Survey Research.

The county's highly publicized crackdown on illegal immigrants was implemented smoothly by the county's police department but has had a mixed effect on crime and the community's perception of the department, according to the report presented to the county Board of Supervisors.

"This is a difficult question to sort through," said Bruce Taylor, director of research at the Police Executive Research Forum, which worked with the University of Virginia to study the effect the policy has had on crime in the county.

Another major question was how much the policy contributed to illegal immigrants leaving the county. Thomas Guterbock, director of the Center for Survey Research, estimated that several thousand illegal immigrants left when the policy was enacted, but added that the reasons for the exodus were not clear.

"It is unclear if the modest outflow was attributable to the immigration enforcement policy (that is, people getting arrested and turned over to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]), fear of the policy or the highly publicized anti-immigration sentiment voiced in the controversy, the economic downturn or all four," the report said.

Prince William Police Chief Charlie Deane said his department was committed to carrying out the policy in a fair and lawful manner, but added he was concerned with findings from the study that showed a drop in police satisfaction and trust from the county's African-American and Hispanic communities.

Ninety-five percent of Asians and 93 percent of whites were satisfied with overall police performance, compared with 84 percent for African-Americans and 73 percent for Hispanics, the report said, based on a 2008 survey. Eight-three percent of whites were satisfied that the police department treats everyone fairly by ethnic and racial group, compared with 80 percent of Asians, 62 percent of African-Americans and 49 percent of Hispanics.

"The devil is in the details in carrying out this policy," Deane said.

dsherfinski@washingtonexaminer.com

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local ... 72942.html

Well that's 3% too much!

Report Out on Va.
Immigration Program
Updated: Wednesday, 05 Aug 2009, 6:41 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 05 Aug 2009, 6:41 PM EDT

Beth Parker

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. - You couldn't avoid the debate back in the 2007. People disagreed over a proposed immigration crackdown in Prince William County.

They protested publicly and packed meetings. The Board of Supervisors supported the plan. Now, Board Chairman Corey Stewart says a new report proves its working.

"We've done nothing differently than an illegal immigration crackdown. That coincided with a 37 percent drop in violent crime in the same period," said Stewart.

Specifically, there has been a 36 percent decline in aggravated assaults, but the report says only 3 percent of the people arrested for aggravated assault are illegal immigrants. Stewart says that's because most of the illegal immigrants have "either left Prince William County or they're keeping out of trouble because they don't want to be deported."

The change in policy requires Prince William County police officers to check the immigration status of people arrested. If they are illegal, County officers begin the deportation process.

Opponents of the change like John Steinbach of Mexicans without Borders say: "The immigrant community is uncomfortable with the idea of local police becoming enforcers of immigration. They feel targeted."

As part of the report, researchers asked county residents if they felt the Police Department "treats everyone fairly". Eighty-two of white people responded yes. But only 49 percent of Hispanics said yes and 61 percent of black residents polled said yes.

Steinbach says the Board's policy has "...created a huge tension in the community and that tension is still there."

Opponents had hoped this new report might lead to the board repealing the crackdown. FOX 5 talked with several Board members on Wednesday, and each one said that's not likely to happen.

www.myfoxdc.com

Pr. William has delivered 1,600 illegal immigrants to feds
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
August 7, 2009

Prince William County has turned over more than 1,600 illegal immigrants to the federal government, according to a recent report.

The county jail's federal immigration unit has processed detainers for 1,739 individuals and turned over 1,632 inmates to Immigration and Customs Enforcement from July 2007 through May 2009, the report from the University of Virginia said.

Jail officials do not know exactly how many of these inmates have been deported, but the Government Accountability Office reported that about two-thirds of those arrested nationwide in fiscal 2008 were being deported.

More than 40,000 illegal immigrants were arrested through the federal immigration enforcement program known as 287g during fiscal 2008, the GAO said. Of the 43,000 aliens, ICE placed about 14,000 in removal proceedings, and arranged for about 15,000 to be voluntarily removed.

Prince William Police Chief Charlie Deane said that historically, local law enforcement has had little experience with enforcing immigration laws, but was "heartened" that his officers felt well trained for the endeavor.

"We did receive good support from ICE," he added.

However, ICE reported difficulties last year in handling the large number of inmates turned over, and county officials are looking for ways to reduce jail overcrowding in their own backyard.

A study done by the California-based Powell consulting group and trend data predicts an inmate population of 1,514 by the year 2015, according to county documents. The jail's capacity has averaged 963 over the past year.

"We still know that we have to manage that population," said Ralph Thomas, director of the county's Office of Criminal Justice Services. A new, $53 million, 200-bed facility opened in October 2008 next to the main facility to help relieve the situation.

Prince William also has operated an intensive pretrial supervision program since 2006 that has netted the county more than $500,000, Thomas said. Under the program, some awaiting trial are pre-screened, then monitored outside the jail with electronic bracelets and community contacts several times a week.

Supervisors this week approved more than $500,000 in federal grant money for a similar intensive program partnering Community Services and Criminal Justice Services. It would save the county an estimated $850,000 in the next three years, after which the one-time grant expires.

www.washingtonexaminer.com

If DC is determined to keep throwing billions and billions of dollars around I would like to see ICE get about 5 to 10% of that money.