Monday, January 28, 2008

5:41 p.m.

Role of local jails enters debate on immigration bill

Giving local jails direct access to a national database that identifies anyone in the U.S. with a criminal record would be a better solution to Kentucky's illegal immigration problem than giving enforcement powers for federal immigration and customs laws to local police, one Commonwealth's Attorney told a House committee today.

Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson told the House Judiciary Committee--which is holding hearings on an immigration bill (House Bill 304) sponsored by Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville-- that giving booking officers direct access to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data could help identify illegal immigrants entering jails without a valid Social Security number or reported place of birth who have allegedly committed crimes elsewhere. Larson said he hopes that local jails at some point can interface NCIC data with fingerprint data to reveal the identify of inmates who are in the state illegally.

"I think (local) detention centers are a great place for this to occur," said Larson.

"When these people enter the detention center, before they get out I hope to know what their immigration status is...not based on their name, but based on their fingerprints," Larson said. "That's the key."

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/pubinfo/capitol_notes.htm