Sheriff Wants To Have Immigration Agents in Allen County

Updated: Jan 25, 2008 01:21 PM PST


(Allen County - WANE) Allen County's sheriff plans to crack down on crime by keeping an eye on illegal aliens. The sheriff wants to train officers to also do immigration enforcement. He believes it will reduce crime, but immigrants are concerned it could lead to racial profiling.

Sheriff Ken Fries wants some of his officers to wear another badge. He hopes to make 10 to 20 officers immigration agents.

"There are not enough customs agents around so this makes customs agents at the local level," he said.

Some groups worry racial profiling could result. Fernando Zapari, the editor of the Spanish language newspaper El Mexicano, said anyone foreign looking could be a target.

"It's going to lead to a lot of police stopping people who look Hispanic and Latino," he said.

The sheriff said the program is designed so racial profiling doesn't happen. The only way illegal aliens can be deported is after they are arrested and taken to the jail on felony or DUI charges.

"Those are the stipulations that immigration and customs set up. They said there are too many illegals. They can't take them all," explained Fries.

Zapari said he supports a program that punishes felons only.

"If someone is a felon I don't have a problem, even if it's my brother. There are people that get in trouble over and over,"

He'd like the sheriff to consider some suggestions, though. He wants the Sheriff's Department to involve Hispanic officers in the program. He also thinks 20 officers dedicated to immigration is too many. The two plan to meet next week to discuss how to tailor the program so everyone in the community benefits.

The program to train the officers will be paid for by the federal government. The sheriff expects to hear in the next few months if the program will come to Allen County. If it does, it will be the only one in Indiana.

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