Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

NLV Police get $99,000 grant for detaining illegal immigrants

The North Las Vegas Police Department is getting a $99,442 federal grant to help pay for detaining undocumented aliens wanted by immigration officials.

The North Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday accepted the grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to cover extra jail costs associated with incarcerating undocumented immigrants held for federal authorities from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010.

Those detained for immigration officials had records including at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions and were incarcerated at the city jail for at least four consecutive days.

Police Chief Joseph Chronister said the department has applied for and received the grant for the past 10 years.

“Oftentimes we will house somebody that we have arrested that is an undocumented alien and as a result, maybe we have to hold them longer until the federal government intervenes,” he said.

Undocumented detainees represented a small fraction of the 9,800 people arrested in North Las Vegas from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010.

“(The grant) affords us the opportunity to pay overtime, if necessary, as a result of us having to house these folks,” said Chronister.

The grant can only go toward correctional purposes. The police department plans to use the grant for security enhancements at the jail, Chronister said.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy