http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S ... 5&nav=2HAB

Cass County sheriff: Immigrants released to avoid medical bills

ATLANTIC, Iowa Cass County authorities say they released two Mexican immigrants found with 95 pounds of marijuana because the county did not want to pay their medical bills and federal officials did not have room for them.

Natividad Valdovino and Javier Ruiz were stopped Monday along Interstate 80 in Atlantic for driving erratically. Deputies found open containers and said one of the men was intoxicated. They searched the van and found drugs but also noticed both men had cuts, scrapes and bruises and needed medical attention.

Cass County Sheriff Bill Sage says the charges were dropped because the county did not want to cover the medical costs.

Immigration officials had told the sheriff's office they couldn't take the immigrants and that neither posed a security risk.

Tim Counts, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, says about 80 percent of the immigrants they house are accused of crimes other than illegal entry, which leaves them some wiggle room. But, he says, they usually focus on criminals.