http://www.knowgangs.com/news/jan07/0118.php

Arrested Gangs Found To Be Undocumented



Federal agents announced the indictment of 13 members of the MS-13 gang last week, and this week authorities said most of the gang members were undocumented immigrants.

Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall said most of the gang members already had a long criminal history, and wonders why they were not behind bars to begin with.

"It's as serious or as notorious of a gang that there is," Hall said. "The frustration for me is all but three of these people had been arrested by Metro Police."

Hall pointed to a lack of information from federal authorities as the major problem that allowed this to happen.

"Unfortunately that's the gap in the system all over the country," Hall said.

Hall said the case is a prime example of why a new program allowing deputies to communicate with INS is needed. The new program to be implemented in about 90 days will ensure that anyone who commits a serious crime and is undocumented has the potential to be deported.

"I don't want to wait until someone's murdered to look into their immigration history," Hall said.

Hall hopes the new program will help to deter crime and gangs like MS-13.

The new program, known as 287-G, is funded completely by the federal government. Training of the deputies and the equipment needed to run the background checks will be covered. The sheriff's office will continue to pay the deputies salaries and benefits.