One of every 10 Virginia jail inmates a suspected illegal immigrant
By TIM MCGLONE, The Virginian-Pilot
© August 28, 2007 | Last updated 3:08 PM Aug. 28

RICHMOND - Roughly 10 percent of inmates in Virginia's jails over the past year were suspected illegal immigrants, with the majority being held on alcohol-related offenses, according to a Virginia State Crime Commission report released today.

More than 21,000 of the 215,769 individuals housed in local jails could not prove U.S. citizenship, according to the study. Another 3,000 were in the state prison system.

The report is first time Virginia has counted undocumented immigrants in its correctional facilities. Further study is being conducted to compare the numbers to previous years.
The commission's Illegal Immigration Task Force asked for the report in its efforts to fashion legislation tightening immigration controls. The task force received the report at its meeting today.

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