About 100 people protest NC jail's policy of referring undocumented immigrants for deportation

By Associated Press

7:45 AM EST, March 29, 2010
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — About 100 people took part in a protest at the county jail in North Carolina's largest city, upset about the jail's participation in a program to deport undocumented immigrants arrested on other charges.

The Charlotte Observer reported the group marched to the Mecklenburg County jail Sunday. The rally was organized by local immigrants' rights group and Little Rock AME Zion Church in Charlotte.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office has participated in the federal program since 2006. Everyone who is arrested is checked for immigration status, and those found to be illegal are referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation. More than 8,000 people have been deported.

Sheriff Chipp Bailey says the program helps protect the community. He says deputies don't go looking for illegal immigrants.

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Information from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com

http://www.myfox8.com/news/sns-ap-nc--i ... 7224.story

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