Cook County Will not detain some illegal immigrants sought by feds

[blueclown]

Source: Chicago Tribute

Casting the contentious debate over illegal immigration as a fiscal issue, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance that would allow illegal immigrants in jail on misdemeanor charges to go free despite federal requests to have them detained for possible deportation.

The practice of abiding by federal immigration "detainer" requests costs the county roughly $15 million per year, or $143 per person per day, county officials said.

The ordinance was based on a recent federal ruling in Indiana that determined Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers are voluntary requests, not mandatory. It applies to anyone arrested on misdemeanor charges who normally would be released from custody, whether because charges are dropped, a person is found not guilty or because bail has been met.

"It's important to recognize that this is about improving public safety, it's about serving our taxpayers better and it's about keeping families together," said county board president Toni Preckwinkle, who did not vote on the ordinance that passed 10 to 5, but helped push it behind the scenes.



Read more: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-09-07/news/chi-county-ordinance-will-end-deportation-referrals-in-misdemeanor-cases-20110907_1_illegal-immigrants-county-board-president-feds

[Tippy]

1. K&R....Our jails are full of people...Our courts are so backed up

CCA Product of ALEC... wants to lock up even more....Common Sense, my hat is off to the Cook County Board of Commissioners.....

[Hawkowl]

2. Preckwinkle rocks!

Followed her since the 80's! A true progressive.

[Hoopla Phil]

3. Didn't the Texas Hair Do recently send a bill the the Federal Government

to try and recoup their expenses?

[Lance_Boyle]

4. If it's a money issue, they should require bail for *all* illegals processed.

None of them are going to show for a trial. Cook County could get rich off of its failure to assist in the detention for deportation of illegal aliens.