Illegal immigrants released from custody on federal orders in Pickens County
By Julie Belschner
Saturday, August 30, 2008

PICKENS, SC — Illegal immigrants arrested in Pickens County are walking back into the shadows after serving their time or paying their fines, according to officials.

More than half of arrested illegal immigrants are released on the orders of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said Capt. Phil Sargent, jail administrator for Pickens County. The mission of ICE is “to more effectively enforce our immigration and customs laws,â€