IMMIGRATION:

Police to share immigration status with feds

New program a partnership between local police and federal immigration officers

Wed, Oct 15, 2008 (7:48 p.m.)

Illegal immigrants who get into trouble with the law in Las Vegas will be referred to federal immigration enforcement officers — even if they aren't found guilty of any criminal offense — thanks to a new program being instituted by the city's police department.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced Wednesday a partnership between Immigration and Customs Enforcement that will implement a jail-based program focusing on identifying criminals who are illegally in the United States.

The effort is part of Section 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions.

Individuals arrested into the Clark County Detention Center who report a foreign birth, a standard question when entering the system, will be referred to one of 10 specially trained correction officers. Officers will have access to the Federal Immigration Database, a system previously only authorized to ICE.

If correction officers find a question of illegal status, the case will be referred to ICE. Individuals will serve their local or state sentence before the case is seen before an immigration judge.

Depending of the level of the crime, the individual may be held in custody by ICE or released on a bond before the hearing.

“This program will assist Immigration in identifying persons with documentation concerns in our detention center so those cases can be handle according to procedures set up by ICE,” Sheriff Douglas Gillespie said. “We do not want to give criminals the opportunity to return to a life of local crime.”

The program officially begins later this month and will not be retroactive, although ICE is currently looking into some cases within Clark County Detention Center.

The program will not be in other city jails or in the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.

Though Metro Police assured the program will not be “policing innocent people on the street,” individuals with documentation concerns who have been found not guilty will be turned over to ICE.

“A police officer had probable cause to believe that that individual committed a crime. Because of that probable cause, they were booked into the detention center and because they are, that triggers that ICE program,” Gillespie said of those cases.

Metro Police is the first department in Nevada to implement the partnership with ICE and one of 63 in the country.

Discussion: 12 comments so far…

By neiman1

10/15/08 at 8:14 p.m.

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I don't want this to sound like anything bad, but it's about time. Reduce the violence, reduce the loss of jobs. They keep saying we lost 700,000 jobs this year but nothing about 12 million illegals in this country. It seems an easy answer to full employment. I wish Harry Reid would quit blocking securing the border.
By sincity99

10/15/08 at 10:04 p.m.

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If ICE really was interested in enforcement here in Las Vegas, all they would have to do is drive by Eastern Avenue and the 215 any morning and round up the boys.

I get hit on more times there driving my pick-up truck than I have by hookers in any casino on the Strip!
By jfnance32

10/15/08 at 10:05 p.m.

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They need to be careful.

At least 1/3 of foreclosures deal with illegals.

Sure hate to see them lose their homes and get deported, too.
By lennybeachboy

10/16/08 at noon

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* SOCIAL SECURITY Should Notify AMERICANS When More Than One Person Is Using Our Number ... WE DESERVE THIS SIMPLE SAFEGAURD AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT !!! Send The No Match Letters Now And Watch Millions Of AMERICANS GET THIER JOBS BACK NOW !!!
By redferret

10/16/08 at 12:24 p.m.

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sincity99:
I totally agree. When I did house painting, I drove into a Vista paint store to get a 5-in-1 and a roller. I was driving a CIVIC! They were still hollering at me and asking for work. Seriously all you would have to do is drive by local paint stores, Home Depots, and the like, and I'm sure you would get a good quota for the day.
Also when did bi-lingual mean speaking Spanish natively, but only a drop or two of English. By that standard I'm tri-lingual or even quad-lingual even though I've forgotten most of my Spanish and French.
By Brittanicus

10/16/08 at 2:18 p.m.

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If your a law abiding citizen or a legal resident, you have nothing to fear from the law. Los Vegas police are doing the work that other pathetic police chiefs have failed to do, across the country. Until the Federal government strictly enforces the 1986 Simpson/Mazzoli Immigration and Control act.

Every county, state has a responsibility to their legal population to fight illegal immigration. Each agency should use 287(g) to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions.

Every 'Sanctuary City or state' paradise elected official who give refuge to illegal aliens, should be held accountable to the full extent of the law. http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/07...

Read what Rep. Tom Tancredo (CO) Interview at YALE UNIVERSITY about the illegal immigrant occupation of our country: http://thepolitic.org/content/view/109/ IT WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT THIS EVER INCREASING PLAGUE.

The middle class already overburdened with war appropriation funds, is still force to pay for the education, free health-care and Federal, state welfare handouts for illegal criminals and millions of illegal alien families. SIGN UP FOR THE SAVE ACT(H.R.4088) enforcement 'ONLY' law at www.numbersusa.com.

SIGN JUDICIAL WATCH, A LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS PETITION, TO RESCIND ALL 'SANCTUARY CITIES & STATES. www.sanctuarybusters.org / source. www.numbersusa.com to Petition the SAVE ACT. For immigration facts not propaganda or lies,

PASS THIS ON COPY, PASTE & DISTRIBUTE FREELY
By elsavalle

10/16/08 at 2:50 p.m.

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I'm married to an illegal, and this does concern me...however, don't get me wrong I agree in some areas, of cracking down on those who do or have a criminal background. Let's deal with those who suppose to come here for a better life, and instead committ crimes. It makes others look bad when some come here and really do want the good life, and are living it. It's sad, and true at the same time, that people take advantage of our great nation....but you know what's even sadder, is that our very own American citizen committ such foul crimes, and are doing life here. When some one like my husband for example could use his social and work peacefully, as we try to do now. Our lawyers are handling our case, but still any pullover could trigger an arrest for my husband and off he goes, and it would only be for having no license. Scary on my part, sad too, but a sense of security for those who are dealing with some serious issues.

My thoughts.......
By Buzzm1

10/16/08 at 5:18 p.m.

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ENFORCE OUR LAWS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!!!

THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY!!!

OUR ACCEPTABLE IMMIGRATION REFORM

#1. Secure Our Borders!!!
#2. Mandate E-Verify for ALL Employees!!!
#3. Mandate E-Verify for ANY Benefit!!!
#4. Stop the Underground Economy!!!
#5. End Birthright Citizenship for Illegals!!!
......and make it retroactive!!!
#6. End Chain Migration!!!
#7. Make English our Official Language!!!
#8. Cut Off Federal Funds to Sanctuary Cities!!

NOTHING MORE!!! NOTHING LESS!!!
By Buzzm1

10/16/08 at 5:21 p.m.

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From I.C.E.'s 287(g) website:

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department JEO 9/8/2008

JEO means Jail Enforcement Officer - They will sort illegaals out AFTER they have been detained, not do street patrol for illegals.
By Buzzm1

10/16/08 at 5:23 p.m.

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WE HAVE BEEN INVADED!!!

SOUTHWEST BORDER APPREHENSIONS (Source DHS/CBP)
1987--1,190,488------1995--1,394,554------2003----905,065
1988--1,008,145------1996--1,649,986------2004--1,139,282
1989----954,243------1997--1,412,953------2005--1,189,108
1990--1,169,939------1998--1,555,776------2006--1,071,972
1991--1,197,875------1999--1,537,000------2007----858,638
1992--1,258,482------2000--1,643,679------2008----660,288 (08/31)
1993--1,327,259------2001--1,235,718
1994--1,094,717------2002----929,809

FACT: In the last 22 years, over 26 million illegals, have been apprehended, crossing our Southwest Border.

THE PROBLEM IS: Less than 1, out of 4 illegals, were estimated to have been apprehended, while crossing the border, into our United States.

Mind boggling, isn't it.

According to the U.S. Immigration Service another 6 million illegals in this country are visa overstays. That is, they got a visa legally in their home country, they came here to visit and then they never left.

In the last 22 years, there have been another 4 million anchor babies born to illegals. Anchor babies are now being born at a rate of 350-400 thousand per year in our United States. All at our expense!!

Then the ANCHOR BABIES qualify for welfare, food stamps, section-8 housing, all at our expense.

American Taxpayers are getting screwed, over, and over, and over, again!!!

Each illegal immigrant, on average, costs taxpayers $9,000 PER YEAR, over, and above, anything they might contribute in taxes!!!
By redferret

10/16/08 at 5:28 p.m.

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I also have a HUGE problem with illegals committing identity theft/fraud. Any time one of those (and let's call em what they are) criminals uses someone else's SSN, that's FRAUD/ID theft.
I feel that it's the employers who need to get the message that by employing illegals, you are lowering the bottom line for yourself, but also hurting America. Quite frankly it's extremely selfish and in this economic time borders on cruelty to your fellow countrymen. When over 7% of us have no jobs, and you hire an illegal. That's just putting a knife in working America's back and twisting it.
By Buzzm1

10/16/08 at 5:49 p.m.

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Dear Legislators,

Mandate E-Verify for ALL employers, for ALL employees, and for ANY benefit, and the I.C.E. raids, as well as all of the expemsive new detention facilities, would not be needed.

The illegals would have to begin leaving of their own accord.

Think of the economic effect of giving the 7 million jobs, that the illegals have illegally obtained, using forged, or stolen documents, back to Americans.

Think of the economic effect of 60 billion more dollars being spent in our United States, rather than being remitted to Mexico, and South America.

Think of the money saved by decreasing I.C.E.'s effort.

Think of it, and then let's do it!!!