Thread: NV: Considering deportation of illegal inmates

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=6170209

Lawmakers Mull Deportation Plan to Solve Prison Overcrowding


Assemblyman Morse Arberry, (D) Las Vegas, said, "But we need to do something, because we just can't lock everybody up and just continue to build prisons. We need to try to do what we can with existing facilities that we do have."

Director Howard Skolnik, Nevada Department of Corrections, said, "If we could remove those inmates from our facilities, everybody would be safer, including the community."

The state's prison population is growing into a major problem, but easing overcrowding is going to cost Nevadans billions. But lawmakers are debating a controversial way to solve this prison problem.

The bare walls and barbed wire do not show just how crowded prisons have become. The system is clogged with over 1,000 extra inmates, and new construction is needed. But it all has a price tag: $300 million over the next two years and nearly $2 billion over the next decade.

Assemblyman Morse Arberry, (D) Las Vegas, said, "But we need to do something, because we just can't lock everybody up and just continue to build prisons. We need to try to do what we can with existing facilities that we do have."

Now there's a plan on the table that could save some of that money while easing overcrowding at the same time. That plan would deport up to 700 of Nevada's inmates. Those inmates are undocumented and illegal immigrants. And within a year, they could be sent back to their home countries.

Director Howard Skolnik, Nevada Department of Corrections, said, "If we could remove those inmates from our facilities, everybody would be safer, including the community."

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement deals with undocumented immigrants and Skolnik says it would take a year to process all the deportation paperwork and get the approval of the home countries. Lawmakers say it's worth a look.

"I'm hoping that they can streamline that because any beds that we can open up for the real hardcore criminals, we need to do that," Assemblyman Arberry continued.

While the plan is controversial, even Skolnik says it's a short-term fix. He says Nevada can expect 8,000 more prisoners in the coming years and the facilities can't keep up.

"We don't have any additional staff. We don't have any additional space. We've placed beds in places where beds don't belong," Skolnik explained.

Critics say the deportation plan would only be a quick fix and would also deport immigrants who have lived here for decades. They also say the plan could deport traffic violators or non-violent criminals.

NV needs to talk to their senator. He wants to give all illegals amnesty.

We need to try to do what we can with existing facilities that we do have."

I'm all for refurbishing Alcatraz and turning it into a port to load up illegals and ship them home.

Originally Posted by sippy

We need to try to do what we can with existing facilities that we do have."

I'm all for refurbishing Alcatraz and turning it into a port to load up illegals and ship them home.

Ya sippy I agree, kind of an Ellis Island exit out of the country.
and yes that state needs to talk some since into thier Senator!!!

Hmmm............what good does it do to deport the criminal aliens a year early, they'll just be back within 30 days. Build that darn fence!