Yes, feds do deport criminals
Posted: Friday, Oct 26, 2007 - 11:27:29 am CDT
By Rasmieyh Abdelnabi
Daily News staff writer

BDN investigation tracks illegal aliens through jail

Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apparently does deport at least some criminal illegal immigrants once they have served their time.

The Daily News recently researched the cases of seven illegal immigrants once held in the Rock County Jail and requested their status with ICE. Three people were deported, three had detainers placed on them and there was no information on the last.

ICE spokesperson Gail Montenegro explained there is no information on the last person asked after because it could be that he goes by another name. The three with detainers are currently in a Wisconsin prison, serving out their sentence.


When ICE places a detainer on someone, the agency that person is currently incarcerated must notify ICE when the person is released.

Typically when an illegal immigrant comes into the jail, officials contact ICE. Illegal immigrants make up about 5 percent of the jail's inmate population. If the person is determined to be an illegal immigrant, ICE will place a detainer on them, which means once they complete their sentence or their case concludes ICE will make arrangements for their pickup and transport to an ICE detention center.

“In general, when ICE comes into contact with an illegal alien, that individual is placed into deportation proceedings and is scheduled for a hearing before a federal immigration judge in the immigration courts administered by Department of Justice. ICE keeps violent criminals, those who have been previously deported, and those with outstanding orders of deportation in our custody until the hearing takes place,â€