NW Ark police to participate in immigration training

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:44 AM CDT

ROGERS, Ark. - Four northwest Arkansas police agencies head to Boston next week to receive federal training on enforcing immigration laws.

The Rogers and Springdale police departments and the sheriff's offices in Washington and Benton counties plan to send officers to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security seminar.

The program teaches officers how to screen inmates' immigration status and report illegal immigrants for possible deportation. The training includes four weeks of classroom study and one week of field training.

Rogers Mayor Steve Womack said six officers from his city will attend the instruction. Springdale police plan to send five officers and the Washington County Sheriff's Office plans to send four deputies, officials said. Benton County officials did not immediately return calls for comment.

Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder said the agencies want to take a regional approach to screening suspects for possible deportation.

"I think, with the political climate what it is right now on illegal immigrants, when word gets out about a program like this, it will have an impact," Helder said. "We won't know how big of an impact until we get started. Right now, it's a guessing game."

Census estimates show Arkansas has more than 141,000 Hispanic residents, many living in the northwest corner of the state. Recent studies concluded about half of the state's immigrant population lives in the United States illegally.

Rogers applied to the program in November, after an undercover police officer was shot in October while trying to serve a warrant at the home of an illegal immigrant. Officers were investigating an alleged drug operation.

Springdale police and the sheriff's offices applied for the federal training this year.