Jail Officers Assist With Deportations
U.S. Training Helps Identify Inmates

By Christy Goodman
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00190.html
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 23, 2007; Page PW01

Federally trained Prince William County jail officers took their first steps to deport 14 inmates in the past month.

The officers graduated from a federal immigration program that trained them to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with preliminary paperwork for deportation proceedings.

The officers have been combing through the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center population since mid-July. Their identifications are in addition to those inmates who were previously flagged for immigration charges by ICE.

In total, about 56 deportation detainers were filed for prisoners at the Prince William jail, as of mid-August.

"That is without having the equipment yet," said Col. Charles "Skip" Land, the jail superintendent. The federal computer systems are expected to be installed at the jail by the end of August, he said. Until then, his specially trained officers travel to field offices in Sterling to process the paperwork, he said.

In addition, the officers have found 35 other "people of interest" who meet deportation criteria established in the agreement between the jail's board and ICE, Land said.

Those who have had detainers filed against them include "one inmate that has two DUI [driving under the influence] convictions and is serving time. We didn't think they would look at him to begin with, but because he came across the border illegally . . . they put a detainer on him for deportation," Land said. "They also have one that got picked up four times and deported and came back."

The detainer is an additional document in an inmate's file. After the inmate has finished serving his sentence, he then goes for a hearing before a federal immigration judge, who decides the prisoner's fate, said Maj. Peter Meletis, director of inmate services at the jail.

"We are just starting to get our feet wet. Our staff is learning as we go through it. As we get more time and experience at it, this process will grow, I'm sure," Meletis said.

Manassas City Council member Jonathan L. Way (R) said the 56 processed detainers plus the 35 people of interest, totaling 91 identifications, demonstrate "a good start."

"Ninety-one is a fairly significant number. These are identifications, not hard deportations. The subjects would be spread out over a considerable amount of time. It is not like a great big lump of guys are getting ready to go right now," said Way, who was referring to inmates who have been identified but have the opportunity to prove their legal status or must serve a sentence before being handed over to federal officials.

Immigration officials transported 20 individuals out of the county system in July. Federal officials have stated that they would be able to handle about 40 deportations a month from the facility.

"If we ever get to 40 a month, that would be a really big accomplishment," Way said.