Thread: N.C.: Arrests of criminal illegals climb

Arrests of criminal illegals climb
By John Harbin Times-News Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 11:00 p.m.

Since the beginning of the year, 63 criminal illegal aliens have been arrested as a result of the 287(g) program, according to statistics released by the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.

Between January and March, of the 63 arrested, 29 have previous criminal records and 20 have had previous involvement with ICE officials.

Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis said these statistics show that local officers are encountering a lot of bad people.

"There is so much more to a person that encounters a law enforcement officer," he said.

"You never know how bad the person is until you get them on a fingerprint machine. The misconception that we are arresting individuals on no operator's license only -- these statistics will debunk that misconception."

Davis said these statistics are showing how the program is being very successful.

So successful that if re-elected, he plans to change the program by adding another arm and making it a two-model form for Henderson County.

"There is the jail enforcement model, which is what we do, that only deals with the ICE aspect after a suspect is brought into the detention center," he said.

"The other is the task force model, where we put someone out into the field."

Davis said the Durham County Sheriff's Office is the only one he knows of in North Carolina that uses the combination model.

Davis said that with the task force model, a detective works on a criminal investigation level.

When asked about the task force model turning into a round-up form of arresting illegals, he said only the federal government has that ability.

"The 287(g) detective will accompany a narcotics unit or a gang unit," he said.

"In those type of investigations, extra people can show up. With the detective there we would be able to identify and arrest everyone. This will aide in dismantling gangs and more crimes."

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www.blueridgenow.com

Wow ... 63 down.

400,000 to go!