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Undocumented Offenders Released when ICE Doesn't Show
May 23, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

ICE Agency Shortfall Leaves State in the Lurch
(KCPW News) Lawmakers want Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to report back to the Immigration Interim Committee this summer with more information about the number of undocumented immigrants released from Utah jails. Shurtleff says often the understaffed Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency can't pick up the offenders, so many are processed in a matter of hours and released.

"There was obviously some discussion during the session about, well, maybe the state does need to step up, or build or purchase a holding facility. In other words, talking about Oxbow," Shurtleff says. "And then we could hold them there as long as it took. And then we wouldn't have to wait for ICE to come pick them up. We could hold them longer, but you would have the bed space available. In that sense of resources, the state might be able to do something. And not just step back and say, until ICE steps up there's no way we can keep these people."



Senate Bill 81 includes a provision requiring Utah law enforcement agents to be cross-deputized as ICE agents. Shurtleff maintains this would be problematic. One reason for this is the lack of a holding facility for undocumented immigrants. Also a concern is removing law enforcement from their regular patrol duties in order to do the job of ICE agents. However, this could be a moot point. Immigration Interim Committee Co-Chairman Representative Brad Dee says the waiting list for ICE training is several years long.

http://www.kcpw.org/article/6034