Illegal immigrants
By Bill Hankins
The Paris News
Published December 13, 2007

Immigration and deportation have become major issues in law enforcement operations across the state, so much so that Congress is urging more cooperation between immigration enforcement and the state’s criminal justice system.

Across Texas, some local law enforcement organizations are dealing with illegal immigrants as if the offices had blinders on their heads, while others are pursuing deportation of every immigrant they arrest.

The Legislative House Corrections Committee wants to make sure the state has consistency in its policies on illegal immigrants with felony convictions, from the probation departments to the local jails to the prison system.

“We are interested in specifically looking at what’s being done to check citizenship, and to make sure that uniform steps are being taken,â€