Sunday, July 03, 2011

Why isn't Clark County doing this? 13 counties (In Washington State) to join crackdown on illegal immigrants accused of crimes

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That's today's quiz question: why isn't Clark County doing this?

13 counties (In Washington State) to join crackdown on illegal immigrants accused of crimes

Yakima County has become the first county in the state to implement a controversial new federal program designed to crack down on illegal immigrants accused of breaking criminal laws — and it won't be the last.

By Amy Harris

Seattle Times staff reporter

Yakima County has become the first county in the state to implement a controversial new federal program designed to identify illegal immigrants accused of breaking criminal laws — and it won't be the last.

Twelve other counties — Lewis, Franklin, Garfield, Gray's Harbor, Pacific, Island, Benton, Walla Walla, Skagit, Douglas, Adams and Kittitas — plan to roll out the Secure Communities program in the upcoming months.

Secure Communities, run by the Department of Homeland Security through its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division, is designed to snag illegal immigrants accused of crimes and repeat immigration violators.

Under the program, the fingerprints of every person booked into county jail are run through a Department of Homeland Security database. If an inmate has been previously fingerprinted by Immigration, the databases will find a "match."

ICE then asks the local jail facility to hold the inmate until ICE agents can interview the person and decide on what action to take.

Depending on the circumstances, including whether the person had been previously deported, has family ties and his or her length of stay in the U.S., ICE will give the individual the option of deportation or voluntary return to his or her native country.

Because immigration proceedings are independent of the state criminal-justice system, illegal immigrants can be removed from jail before their criminal case is complete.

"If you're an illegal immigrant and are a criminal on top of that, you shouldn't be here," said Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin. "The people here are just sick and tired of crime and gang problems. Whatever can be done to get more criminals out of the area, the better."
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We need to get on board an implement this ASAP.
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