Thread: UT: Jail guards to be trained on identifying undocumented im

Jail guards to be trained on identifying undocumented immigrants
By Nate Carlisle
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:06/26/2008 08:20:58 PM MDT

Posted: 8:20 PM- Two county jails on opposite halves of the state will soon take a larger role in finding undocumented immigrants.
The sheriff's offices in Washington and Weber counties announced today they will train jail guards to identify undocumented immigrants and help remove those people from the country. At present, much of that work is done by federal immigration agents who routinely visit jails across Utah.
But some state and local authorities have sought more tools to combat illegal immigration. A law passed this year by the Utah Legislature allows for local police to become immigration enforcers.
The enforcement in Washington and Weber counties will be limited to immigrants who are booked into the jail on suspicion of breaking local laws. Deputies will not be allowed to patrol outside the jail for undocumented immigrants or arrest people on the basis of immigration status.
"Either we ignore the problem or we do something ourselves, and I personally fees like we have gotten to the point where we have to do something," said Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith.
The move in Washington and Weber counties was hailed by Sen. Orrin Hatch, whose office announced the plans in a press release.
"This is a key step forward in paving the way for increased coordination between [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and local law enforcement to catch and deport illegal aliens who are committing crimes and harming the safety of our neighborhoods," Hatch said.
Immigration has become an intense subject for Utah politicians and was one of the top topics in Tuesday's Republican primary for the 3rd Congressional District. Challenger Jason Chaffetz, who is opposed to allowing undocumented immigrants to remain in the country, defeated six-term incumbent Chris Cannon, who favors permitting many immigrants to stay.
Although only jail guards will be trained in Weber and Washington counties, that might encourage street officers to arrest someone just because they might be an undocumented immigrant, said Salt Lake City attorney Mike Martinez, who is opposed to using local police as immigration enforcers.
"It's ethnic profiling," he said. "This gives [police] the false impression that they can stop someone merely because they want to, which isn't constitutional no matter what authority you have."
Steve Branch, the field office director U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Salt Lake City, said Washington and Weber counties will increase the capacity to enforce immigration laws in Utah.
"It's more efficient because they will [determine the immigration status] right at the time of the book in," Branch said.
Smith said he will send two jail guards to the five-week training course. That won't be enough to assess every immigrant who enters the jail in Washington County, he said, so federal agents will still be necessary.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9712134?source=rss

I was always under impression that I could be held for 72 hours (Ca) without being charged with anything. I was always demanded a valid ID or this would happen by law authorities.
Prove me wrong!!!
JBG