Jail program continues to net illegals
By Adam Linhardt
February 3, 2008 - 6:49PM
GASTONIA — Felipe Kofman works with immigrants as a translator and tax counselor to those making the transition to American life.

Last year when Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger announced his office would begin enforcing federal immigration laws, Kofman said most of his clients supported the change, but some worried they could be unfairly targeted.

Last February Cloninger announced alongside U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick that some deputies would be trained so they could charge and detain illegal immigrants. It was up and running by June.

Agents from Immigrant and Customs Enforcement trained the deputies and continue to work with them today, Cloninger said. There are six such deputies working in the program right now.

The right to question the person’s identity
In the six months after the sheriff’s office began the program, Kofman said he doesn’t feel police or deputies are unfairly stopping Hispanics.

“What happens a lot is that people are driving without a driver’s license or proper identification,â€