Times-News
Chris Lavender
January 11, 2012 5:29 PM

Instead of backing off the use of the 287 (g) immigration program, Sheriff Terry Johnson said on Wednesday he is looking to expand the sheriff’s office reach into eastern North Carolina.


Johnson is now in negotiations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Washington D.C. to allow six of his sheriff’s deputies to transport illegal immigrants arrested and processed through the 287 (g) from jail facilities in eastern North Carolina to the Alamance County jail.


The federal government would reimburse the sheriff’s office’s cost to transport these inmates across the state to Alamance County. Johnson said the proposed agreement to expand the program would help reduce the jail’s cost as well.


The Alamance County jail is the only 72-hour holding facility for inmates processed through 287 (g) in North Carolina. Johnson said the number of 287 (g) arrests has substantially decreased statewide during last year.


Johnson said the sheriff’s office would likely transport some ICE inmates processed at the Neuse Regional Correctional Institute in Goldsboro to Alamance County if an agreement is reached. Johnson said all of the ICE inmates transported by his deputies would be already processed by federal authorities before they are brought to the county jail.

Sheriff looks east for Immigration detainees | sheriff, immigration, east - Burlington Times News