Jeanfromfillmore
11-05-2009, 11:27 AM
Supervisors extend pact for screening of foreign-born inmates
Joe Nelson and Josh Dulaney, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/03/2009 06:15:31 PM PST
Updated: 11/04/2009 12:31:56 PM PST
The heated topic of illegal immigration was back on the front burner Tuesday when the county Board of Supervisors extended its agreement to have sheriff's employees screen inmates suspected of being in the country illegally.
Under the program, which started in September 2005 and was extended for another three years Tuesday at a cost of more than $600,000, sheriff's custody specialists screen foreign-born inmates and place federal holds on them if they are suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Once the criminal cases have concluded, the inmates are turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for possible deportation at the conclusion of their criminal cases.
But not everyone was pleased with Tuesday's action.
Critics say the program has created a system of racial profiling by law enforcement in the Inland Empire.
"We're definitely disappointed they approved it. We will still be continuing to push forward with better public oversight and a transparent complaint process," said Jennaya Dunlap, member of the Justice for Immigrants Coalition of Inland Southern California.
She claims people have been hauled off to jail just because they were suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Sheriff's Lt. Rick Ells said he is unaware of any such situations in San Bernardino County, but has heard of problems in other counties.
A provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 2002, known as Section
287(g), authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to enter into written agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain functions of an immigration officer, including the screening of jail inmates to see if they are in the country legally.
San Bernardino County officials have hailed the program a success since its implementation in 2005.
In 2008, sheriff's custody specialists interviewed 3,720 inmates and placed detainer holds on 2,359 of them. This year, custody specialists interviewed 3,574 inmates and placed holds on 2,742 inmates, Ells said.
"Our program has resulted in the identification and deportation of thousands of illegal immigrants in our jails," Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said.
Mitzelfelt secured funding this year to expand the program.
As a result, the number of inmates with detainers placed on them increased 16 percent. That's because the expansion made it possible for custody specialists to interview inmates via closed-circuit television at various booking facilities across the county, Ells said.
Supervisor Paul Biane asked the Sheriff's Department to develop the program after receiving reports that about 15 percent of criminals booked into county jails were in the country illegally, and that their incarceration was costing taxpayers $12 million annually.
Biane stressed in a news release that the program does not encourage racial profiling.
"It does not authorize deputies to randomly target or arrest undocumented immigrants, and it should not deter anyone from reporting a crime or providing witness information to the authorities," Biane said.
Activist groups debated the merits of the program at a City Council meeting in Fontana last week, after unconfirmed reports that police there had been targeting Latino drivers at checkpoints near school zones during school hours.
Bobbi Jo Chavarria, a member of the community activist group ACORN, asked the council to adopt a resolution condemning the program, but was promptly rebuked by Mayor Mark Nuaimi.
Chavarria said she was not surprised by the Board of Supervisors' action on Tuesday.
"It is what we expected," Chavarria said. "It is disheartening that members of the community are silenced when valid concerns aren't taken into consideration."
Members of We the People, a Claremont-based anti-illegal immigration group, believe the program contributes to public safety by lowering the number of criminals in the county.
"I think 287(g) ought to be made standard across America, and furthermore, it should be allowed in the streets where illegal aliens are encountered," said Raymond Herrera, group founder.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_13706185?nclick_check=1
Joe Nelson and Josh Dulaney, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/03/2009 06:15:31 PM PST
Updated: 11/04/2009 12:31:56 PM PST
The heated topic of illegal immigration was back on the front burner Tuesday when the county Board of Supervisors extended its agreement to have sheriff's employees screen inmates suspected of being in the country illegally.
Under the program, which started in September 2005 and was extended for another three years Tuesday at a cost of more than $600,000, sheriff's custody specialists screen foreign-born inmates and place federal holds on them if they are suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Once the criminal cases have concluded, the inmates are turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for possible deportation at the conclusion of their criminal cases.
But not everyone was pleased with Tuesday's action.
Critics say the program has created a system of racial profiling by law enforcement in the Inland Empire.
"We're definitely disappointed they approved it. We will still be continuing to push forward with better public oversight and a transparent complaint process," said Jennaya Dunlap, member of the Justice for Immigrants Coalition of Inland Southern California.
She claims people have been hauled off to jail just because they were suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Sheriff's Lt. Rick Ells said he is unaware of any such situations in San Bernardino County, but has heard of problems in other counties.
A provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 2002, known as Section
287(g), authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to enter into written agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain functions of an immigration officer, including the screening of jail inmates to see if they are in the country legally.
San Bernardino County officials have hailed the program a success since its implementation in 2005.
In 2008, sheriff's custody specialists interviewed 3,720 inmates and placed detainer holds on 2,359 of them. This year, custody specialists interviewed 3,574 inmates and placed holds on 2,742 inmates, Ells said.
"Our program has resulted in the identification and deportation of thousands of illegal immigrants in our jails," Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said.
Mitzelfelt secured funding this year to expand the program.
As a result, the number of inmates with detainers placed on them increased 16 percent. That's because the expansion made it possible for custody specialists to interview inmates via closed-circuit television at various booking facilities across the county, Ells said.
Supervisor Paul Biane asked the Sheriff's Department to develop the program after receiving reports that about 15 percent of criminals booked into county jails were in the country illegally, and that their incarceration was costing taxpayers $12 million annually.
Biane stressed in a news release that the program does not encourage racial profiling.
"It does not authorize deputies to randomly target or arrest undocumented immigrants, and it should not deter anyone from reporting a crime or providing witness information to the authorities," Biane said.
Activist groups debated the merits of the program at a City Council meeting in Fontana last week, after unconfirmed reports that police there had been targeting Latino drivers at checkpoints near school zones during school hours.
Bobbi Jo Chavarria, a member of the community activist group ACORN, asked the council to adopt a resolution condemning the program, but was promptly rebuked by Mayor Mark Nuaimi.
Chavarria said she was not surprised by the Board of Supervisors' action on Tuesday.
"It is what we expected," Chavarria said. "It is disheartening that members of the community are silenced when valid concerns aren't taken into consideration."
Members of We the People, a Claremont-based anti-illegal immigration group, believe the program contributes to public safety by lowering the number of criminals in the county.
"I think 287(g) ought to be made standard across America, and furthermore, it should be allowed in the streets where illegal aliens are encountered," said Raymond Herrera, group founder.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_13706185?nclick_check=1