By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
RICHMOND
Virginia sheriffs and jail administrators would be required to initiate deportation proceedings against suspected illegal immigrants under a proposal announced Tuesday by the State Crime Commission's illegal immigration task force.
The plan, which would need the General Assembly's approval, would force jail officials to begin the deportation process instead of waiting for federal immigration agents to decide whether to take custody of a suspect. Currently, some jails are more proactive than others in alerting federal authorities of suspected illegal immigrants.
"It does very little good for Virginia Beach to have one policy and Norfolk to have a completely different policy," state Sen. Kenneth Stolle, vice chairman of the commission and a task force member, said at the panel's second meeting.
The task force was formed earlier this year after a double-fatal crash in Virginia Beach that authorities say was caused by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. The driver, Alfredo Ramos, had prior convictions for drunken driving and drunkenness in public, but his name was never forwarded to immigration officials. He is now charged with manslaughter in the crash.
A task force survey of Virginia's 123 sheriff's offices found that 43 of the 63 departments that responded had a policy in place to question incoming inmates of their immigration status.
The Virginia Beach Correctional Center has a policy in place that requires staff to inquire of an inmate's immigration status. At the end of June, the jail was housing 36 suspected illegal immigrants.
Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe said he also had a policy to check on immigration status, but he could not provide the number of illegal immigrants to pass through his system.
Officials at Chesapeake City Jail, where Ramos spent some time after his prior arrests, said they recently became more diligent in notifying immigration authorities.
But all the jails have complained that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency responsible for taking deportees, sometimes does not respond to their calls. That means that a jail must release a suspected illegal immigrant after he or she has served jail time or gets out on bond.
"When ICE places a hold on that person, it doesn't mean that much," said Stolle, R-Virginia Beach. "The public has a perception, and I agree with it, that the government should do something about it."
Only a handful of Virginia sheriffs departments participate in a voluntary federal program that trains deputies to recognize illegal immigrants and initiate the deportation process. The plan announced Tuesday would make the program mandatory for every jail in the state. Stolle said legislation would be prepared before the next General Assembly session in January.
ICE officials told the panel they could not guarantee the financing and bed space that would be necessary if every jail in the state joined the program.
Scott Blackman, director of ICE's Law Enforcement Support Center, told the task force that his agency now only has the resources to "go after the worst of the worst." But he said that could include cases ranging from national security violations to drunken driving.
The training program, paid by the federal government, costs $600,000 to $1 million per department. Officials said about 33 departments nationwide have been trained and another 67 have requested training.
Blackman said bed space in jails is already a critical issue. Virginia jails are crowded, forcing ICE to transfer suspected illegal immigrants to other states.
The National Latino Peace Officers Association raised concerns about expanding the program.
The association "opposes efforts to engage state and local police authorities in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws," Sgt. Leonardo Reyes, a Virginia Beach police officer and president of the Virginia chapter of the association, told the panel.
He said immigration enforcement by local and state police would damage the trust between police and the immigrant communities, and prevent crime victims and witnesses from coming forward.
He cited an incident last weekend in Norfolk during which city police held an outreach program in an immigrant community. The program, at a city church, attracted 16 undocumented immigrants, he said.
"The police officers had to assure them that the ICE vans would not be there" to take them away, Reyes said.
This drew the ire of Del. John S. Reid, R-Richmond.
"It greatly concerns me that a police officer stands up here and says they won't enforce the law, whether state or federal," Reid said. "I don't accept that any way at all."
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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federal laws vs local & state laws
Our local & state cops have no authority to enforce federal law. Unless ICE can figure out who the illegals are and get a warrant for their arrest on file, the local cops cannot do a thing about a person's immigration status. Even if there was a warrant for the illegals , ICE would have to come and get them and ask any cop how eager ICE actually is to pick up a person who is in this country illegally.
Simple Solution
If I.C.E. refuses to take the Illegals off the hands of the Virginia Jails, then simply load these Illegals on buses and ship them to New Haven, Connecticut where they would be welcomed and given new, so-called legit., I.D. Cards!
check your statistics too...
bet you'd be suprised at how many illegal aliens are committing major auto hit and runs, ivolving death and maiming around the country. Look it up, you'd be flabbergasted. I say, charge the companies hiring these people the cost of deportation. "I did'nt know?" can only go so far. Hit 'em in the pocketbook, and I bet they'd check work permits. It's harder to get a library card than a car, they already get free health care if they can't pay...My parents had to go by the rules, so should they...no one is above the law...
Some interesting comments.
First, what kind of criminal is filling our jails? Can we get statistics on that because it is very important at this time? I like the idea of no job = no illegal. I also like no rent to = no illegal. We needs law against those that employ illegals and those that rent to them....with hefty fines. Our politicians....lord help us! Until we get behind out voices and aim it at our politicians we will not be heard. This blog is well and good, but when was the last time you called or wrote to any of our elected officials? I wish more would made it a habit because sitting on our duff tying on this blog isn't the answer nor the solution. It's just as easy to email a politician as it is to write your thoughts here. Second, deport all of them! Now!
Almost a good idea.
Okay so lets do some math. If the prisons throughout the state are roughly 3-5% over capacity some at double digits. Where are we going to fit the illegals? But okay so we catch them where do we keep them if the prisons are full? Spend more tax payers money for more prisons or bill their country of origin? Im for the enforcement of these federal laws on a local level but Im not for blowing money unless the feds give us the funds. All your doing is taking money from roads and schools.
Shortage of beds?
Maybe if the cities stop jailing people for petty things such as unpaid fines and find other alternatives such as collections, mandatory community service, etc, there would be more bed space for illegal immigrants and other people with more serious crimes. The way the current system is, it is no wonder that jails are over crowded and that law enforcement has a hard time dealing with situations that are more of a threat to the community.
Laws
First, Like mexico, we should enact laws that do not allow for the use of western union and others, to send money out of the country, if you cannot prove you are ehere legally. Next, a police officer who has decided not to enforce the law should be suspended pending an investigation, and then terminated. It's one thing to write a warning ticket, or handle a minor disturbance without an arrest, it's another to thumb your nose at a federal law, especially if you are sworn to uphold the law.
Employers
Instead of deporting illegals at public expense, fine the employers, heavily..... the problem would solve itself. No jobs....no illegals.
Not fair to protect illegals
My solution...... electric fence on the border, sorry it is ok for illegals to come here and kill innocents, but it is so inhumane to shoot them at the border? Gee how many more innocent legal citizens should have to die, because we are so politically correct? come here legally, learn the english language, pay taxes, follow and abide by our laws and have our american dream!!! and to the law enforcement officers: Do the right thing and send em back next time, do not help by protecting them, they are not law abiding citizens, and they are not here legally!
This shouldn't be a new thing
Illegals should have been deported when discovered from day one. I can't believe it's something that has to be debated. "He said immigration enforcement by local and state police would damage the trust between police and the immigrant communities, and prevent crime victims and witnesses from coming forward." If those communities are made up of illegals, they shouldn't trust the police! The very idea that illegal immigrants are encouraged to trust our police shows us that our police are being told not to turn them in. Our local police need to stop turning a blind eye to illegal immigrants and ICE needs to get on the ball and stop this madness.
Lets Look At The Math
Alfredo Ramos plus illegal immigrant plus DUI X 1 equals deportation resulting in two innocent and vibrant lives saved! Let's analyze this. We have a law. We have processes and resources in place to enforce said law. We have 80 percent of Americans wanting these laws enforced and our border secured. Seems everything is there to me with one exception. Our elected officials. Why is that? What do they have to gain? Who are they listening to? Surely not the voters. Is there some classified information they have that we don't? I don't think so. What we have here in the famous words of a former comedian...It's a mystery! So, Senator plus no action plus voter action equals no job! I'm looking forward to elections like I did Xmas as a kid!
Virginia ranked number five
Here's why illegals fill safe here. Law enforcement helping them out and disregarding there oath. Why out of all places do they fill safe here in Va. we're in the top five can you believe it! Cali., Texas, AZ., NC and us??? Enforce the law or step beside!!
Aiding and Abetting
They may need to try my two-step plan
We may have to kiss the keisters of the illegal invaders. It is still a felony to aid and abet them.
If some honest men and women in law enforcement, would go after the lowlifes in the government, business and the general population that have been aiding and abetting them, by the time they had enough of a handle on it to raise their heads from the job and look around, I don't think many illegal aliens would still be left.
We don't need any new laws to do this either. Just some honest men and women that take their oaths of office seriously!
Finding them is the first step!
Why doesn't the ICE enforce the law??
Neale is right--there damn sure should have been ICE vans waiting to take away the 16 illegals. Local police should be initiating deportment procedures!! If they police had been enforcing the law all along we wouldn't have 12-20 millionof them here sucking the taxpayers dry and using all the social services!! Take the new traffic fines to support this program because we can afford new roads when we cut off free food, housing and medical care for illegals!! What part of illegal is so hard to understand!!!!!
Outrageous!
16 illegals show up and not taken into custody? How much more outrageous can this country get? So if I break the law purposely, I can expect not to get arrested too? I would take this all the way to the supreme court to show how ridiculous it has become to allow lawbreakers to get away. I demand my rights as an American not to be arrested if I ever think of breaking the law and I will win since people here illegally are getting away with it..but wait..thats right, Americans no longer have as many rights as illegasl..do they? Our language is changing and we are now becoming known as Mexi-America by our european neighbors..the shame of what is being done to the one mighty USA and supported by our own president! Shame, shame...
They'll Come Back
Deport them? For what? So they can come right back and get a job and their freedom? Sentence, convict, incarcerate here!!
Sgt. Reyes
I think it's time for Sgt Reyes to resign if he won't enforce the laws he has sworn to enforce as a Police officer.
Outreach?
The Norfolk policemen involved in that outreach program last weekend should be disiplined for not enforcing the law. There SHOULD have been ICE vans waiting for those 16 illegals! Kudos to Delegate Reid for saying what I was thinking (albeit in a kinder, gentler way), when reading the quotes form Sgt. Reyes.
Listen up Virginia Government!
The citizens of Virginia are speaking up so pass this plan when it reaches you in the General Assembly or plan to look for a new job when your re-election comes around. Proof of this is how more citizens are speaking up in Loudon, Manassas, Herndon and the list keeps growing. I want to shake Delegate John S. Reid's hand for sticking up for our laws and seeing how turning a blind eye to our laws is wrong. Also financing this plan should not be an issue because VA citizens are now taxed up the wazzoo for traffic fees to raise money so how about directing such an effort to actually enforce laws already on the books for years. Illegal immigration, which steals benefits, identities, etc., is much worse then most traffic violations.