Thread: Immigration screening of Jail Inmates Increases

Immigration screening of jail inmates increases

By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times | June 28, 2008

LOS ANGELES - The inmates sit on a metal bench in a converted cell at a Los Angeles County jail. Many have served their time and are ready for release. But not before a quick interview.

Where were you born? Have you ever been deported? Did you know that a judge had ordered you to leave the country?

Sheriff's officials, who have been trained by federal authorities to screen for illegal immigrants at the jail, have interviewed nearly 20,000 inmates since the controversial program began more than two years ago. They have referred 10,840 people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation.

Recently, the Sheriff's Department received $500,000 in county funding to expand the jail screening and to increase the number of interviewers from eight to 13.

Sheriff's officials said the screenings free up jail beds and ensure that illegal immigrants who commit crimes are deported, not released back into the community. Immigration authorities said the program allows them to focus limited resources on other enforcement efforts.

"We obviously have a tremendous amount of work to do in the United States to combat the issue of illegal immigration," said Brian DeMore, Los Angeles field office director of the immigration agency. "We use these programs as a way to bolster our immigration authority."

But there are still holes in the system. The process largely relies on inmates' honesty about where they were born. And even after assigning more custody assistants, department officials say they will not be able to interview 100 percent of foreign-born inmates.

"We do not talk to everybody," said Sheriff's Lieutenant Kevin Kuykendall. "We just don't have the manpower."

Immigrant-rights advocates criticize the screenings, saying that the sheriff's custody assistants are not adequately trained and that there is room for error that has led to the deportation of at least one US citizen. They also say it discourages illegal immigrants from reporting crimes.

Officials say that because the screeners are not sworn deputies, immigrants should not feel intimidated by them.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/artic ... es?mode=PF

They also say it discourages illegal immigrants from reporting crimes.


I'm sure everybody is sooooo sick of this lame excuse, but when will the politicians realize it is just another scam?

Like they report that many crimes anyway.[/quote]