Myrick defends jail immigration plan
By Franco Ordoñez
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Monday, Mar. 09, 2009

3/09/09 - U.S. Representative Sue Myrick holds a news conference on the 287g program in Charlotte Monday morning. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

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Report: Deportation program nets minor offenders


State and local leaders who implemented a federal program in Mecklenburg County that identifies jailed illegal immigrants rushed to its defense Monday after a congressional report criticized it for targeting minor offenders instead of the serious criminals it was designed to catch.


U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, a Charlotte Republican who helped bring the program to Mecklenburg, said the report by the Government Accountability Office is biased and unfair. She said it could be a sign that the federal government is softening its stance on illegal administration.


“The administration, I'm concerned, is laying the ground work frankly to gut the 287(g) program,â€