POSTED: 10:38 am EST February 6, 2006
UPDATED: 2:08 pm EST February 6, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A new program will federalize 10 Mecklenburg County deputies so that they can help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detain and remove illegal aliens.

The program is the first of its kind to be implemented by a sheriff's office east of the Mississippi.

The announcement was made by Representative Sue Myrick, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph and ICE Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey S. Jordan.

"This new program changes how North Carolina responds to illegal aliens," said Rep. Myrick. "We have a shortage of federal agents to deal with illegal aliens in our state, and this program provides us with some much needed back up. My hope is that every county in North Carolina sees what we are doing here and applies to set up a similar program with ICE."

ICE said it will train 10 deputies to carry out certain duties traditionally handled by federal immigration officers. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office deputies will operate within the Mecklenburg County Jail facilities to interview foreign national inmates to determine whether there is probable cause for an immigration violation; complete the processing for criminal aliens, including fingerprinting; prepare documentation to place aliens in deportation proceedings concurrent with their prison term; and prepare documentation to deport aliens following their terms.

In addition, they will refer criminal aliens to the ICE Office of Investigations for potential criminal prosecutions.