Odd that a law officer has to explain that they will only deport the worst criminals. The last two paragraphs are telling. That if they did expand the program to lesser crimes the sheer volume would overwhelm the agency. So they are going to be released into our community. Isn't that just great...



Lake Co. vows to only deport worst criminals
By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 1/11/2008 12:57 PM

Lake County Homeland Security Director Wayne Hunter met with the county board today to clear up misconceptions about the sheriff's plan to give some jail officers deportation powers.

The controversial proposal would only allow corrections officers to start deportation paperwork for illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes, sex offenses, serious drug crimes and other severe crimes, Hunter said.

Jailed illegal immigrants convicted of lesser crimes would not be affected, nor would illegal immigrants without criminal records, he insisted. [red]So...they are going to be released back into the county?![/red]

Additionally, the sheriff's patrol deputies wouldn't be eligible for the program, Hunter insisted. Only six officers stationed at the jail would participate.

The 50-minute discussion during the morning's regularly scheduled committee-of-the-whole gathering prompted comments of support from some commissioners.

"When you get people breaking our laws, I say (you're) gone -- adios," board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt said.

Hunter's explanation also led board member Bob Sabonjian, who started the day as an outspoken opponent of the plan, to change his stance.

Although he first called the program "a tool of intimidation" against the county's Hispanic population, he later said he didn't object to the program if only more serious criminals are targeted.

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran last month announced plans to qualify six corrections officers for deportation powers available to U.S. police departments under a 1996 law. He's the first Illinois sheriff to apply for the powers.

Thousands of people protested the Waukegan city council's decision to seek the same powers last year. The sheriff's office hasn't faced that kind of public protest.

Under current rules, Lake County's corrections officers contact immigration officials whenever they come across an inmate who wasn't born in the U.S., has been in jail for at least four days and has been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors.

It's then up to the federal agency to start deportation proceedings.

That would continue if the sheriff's proposal is approved, Hunter said. The six corrections officers only would be able to start deportation proceedings for more serious criminals, he said.

Expanding the program to illegal immigrants convicted of lesser crimes likely would overwhelm the federal agency, Hunter said.

"It is not practical to consider the deportation of the woman stealing baby food," Hunter said, referring to an hypothetical situation the board discussed. "They can't handle the sheer volume of the numbers."

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=111416