NLV Police get $99,000 grant for detaining illegal immigrants

lasvegassun.com
By Aida Ahmed (contact)

Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 | 10:34 a.m.

The North Las Vegas Police Department is getting a $99,442 federal grant to help pay for detaining undocumented aliens wanted by immigration officials.

The North Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday accepted the grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to cover extra jail costs associated with incarcerating undocumented immigrants held for federal authorities from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010.

Those detained for immigration officials had records including at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions and were incarcerated at the city jail for at least four consecutive days.

Police Chief Joseph Chronister said the department has applied for and received the grant for the past 10 years.

“Oftentimes we will house somebody that we have arrested that is an undocumented alien and as a result, maybe we have to hold them longer until the federal government intervenes,â€