Originally published January 30, 2009


By Gina Gallucci-White
News-Post Staff


Calvin McCormick, ICE field office director, left, hands a certificate of appreciation to Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins in recognition of the sheriff’s office immigration enforcement.



Since entering into a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office has detained 300 illegal immigrants.

"I am extremely proud of where we are at," Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said.

The program, known as 287(g), trained 16 corrections officers and 10 deputies to help ICE officials arrest and deport illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

Frederick County started a partnership with ICE in February 2008.

When the agency reached 200 illegal immigrant detainees, ICE recognized the sheriff's office in mid-October with a certificate of appreciation in support of immigration enforcement.

"This is a win-win for ICE's law enforcement partnership with Frederick County Sheriff's Office," Calvin McCormick, ICE field office director in Baltimore, said in an e-mail.

"We value the cooperation and assistance from Sheriff Jenkins to ensure the criminal aliens are removed from the country when they complete their sentences, rather than being released to the streets. When law enforcement partners, public safety benefits."

Some of the offenses the detainees have been arrested for include driving without a license, driving under the influence, drug possession, child abuse and assault.

The program helps to secure the country's borders and lower the crime rate, Jenkins said.

When speaking at a recent Maryland Sheriffs' Association meeting, Jenkins told the group about the program and received applause. He has received inquires regarding the program, the first of its kind in the state, from agencies in Maryland and other states.

"ICE has recognized us as a model agency," Jenkins said.

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