Thread: TN:Williamson sheriff wants officers trained to deport illeg

Thursday, 07/19/07

Williamson sheriff wants officers trained to deport illegals

By MITCHELL KLINE
Staff Writer


FRANKLIN - Williamson County Sheriff Ricky Headley announced today that he wants officers at the county’s jail trained in how to deport illegal immigrants.

Headley said that since January, 36 percent of all people arrested in Williamson County were not legal U.S. residents. He said 50 percent of those people were arrested for not having a driver license.

"That is a scary thought to me," Headley said. "It tells me that regardless of how overcrowded our jail may become or how stretched of manpower we are, we have got to do something."

Headley said the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has applied for a partnership with the federal government under section 287 (g) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. This would allow chosen officers to become commissioned federal agents capable of investigating and deporting illegal immigrants, according to Headley.

It will take between six and eight months to get approved and have jail officers trained, Headley said. It will cost "several hundred thousand dollars a year" for Williamson County to do this, Headley said.

"But in my opinion, in the long run it will save the county money," he said.

Headley said doesn’t plan on asking county commissioners, who approved his annual budget, for more money.

Only people who are arrested would be subject to background searches and residency inquiries, Headley said.

"We will not show up at job sites or set up checkpoints and pull people over as ask if they are residents," Headley said. "This is only people who are arrested and charged with a crime."

Approximately 15 inmates a month who come into the Williamson County jail are sent to a federal immigration court in Memphis, according to Headley. He said jail officials often wait weeks to hear back from federal agents on the immigration status of inmates.

By participating in the 287 (g) program, background and immigration status checks could be done much sooner by local deputies, Headley said.

http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pb ... 1/70719048

Headley said that since January, 36 percent of all people arrested in Williamson County were not legal U.S. residents. He said 50 percent of those people were arrested for not having a driver license.

These are huge numbers!!! I posted a comment on this article in the newspaper providing information on the Mecklenberg County, NC 287(g) program.

Go for it sheriff the more the merrier!! It also sends a message to congress we want something done!!!


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