Immigration detainers down at county jail
By Edith Brady-Lunny, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
In 2012, advocates for immigration reform called on Sheriff
The roster of 2014 foreign arrestees booked into the jail reflects a diverse population of more than 170 people from multiple counties on multiple continents, and only 18 were held on ICE detainers. If a person in custody is named on a detainer, the jail is asked to notify ICE before the person is released, and ICE has 48 hours to take the person into its custody.
Emery refused to alter the policy that he believes is in line with his obligation to cooperate with the federal law enforcement agency.
In the past two years, the county has seen the number of detainers issued by ICE drop from 122 in 2012, to 48 in 2013 and 18 this year.
Several factors may be behind the decrease in the transfers to federal custody.
In
The reduction in detainers after Secure Communities became effective in all
"Now that Secure Communities has been implemented successfully across the nation, it is operating as it was intended," said the sheriff.
The intention to round up the most serious offenders has been a challenge for the program that has ensnared hundreds of thousands of low-level offenders nationwide in the past five years.
A review of the criminal records of the 18 people held on ICE detainers includes traffic cases, including driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license. Serious felony cases involving home invasion and sexual assault are pending against several on the list, and others were convicted of drug and sex offenses against children.
Jail staff members are not given a reason for the detainer request, which can lead to the person being taken to one of three jails used as ICE holding centers where their cases are processed.
A change by federal officials to target only the most serious criminals for possible deportation is more likely behind the reduction in detainer orders, said Carrillo, one of the main advocates for an end to detainers at the county jail.
The availability of driving privileges for illegal immigrants in
Since the special drivers licences became available for illegal immigrants in November, 46,000 people have received permission to drive in
The
In 2013,
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