Posted on 01/19/2012 8:03:02 AM PST by CedarDave
SANTA FE — The Santa Fe County jail continues to release many illegal immigrants — some of them dangerous criminals — to the streets before immigration officials can detain them.
That’s according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials who this week ramped up their criticism of the lockup in Santa Fe, known for its “safe haven” attitude toward immigrants.
After the agency’s statements to KOAT-TV, repeating earlier claims that jail officials don’t do enough to help them enforce federal immigration law, the county and ICE sat down to try to reach an understanding.
ICE assistant Albuquerque field office director William Jepsen told the Journal the feds have voiced their concerns with the county “multiple times,” and he described the relationship between the two sides as “strained and stressed.”
Police Chief Ray Rael said his department is concerned about any criminal, whether an illegal immigrant or a local, being released when they’re not supposed to be. “If someone is not held, then it’s a concern.”
Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia said no criminals, undocumented or otherwise, “should be back on the street” if the feds want them in custody.
~~big snip~~
And the elephant in the room could be Santa Fe County’s immigrant-friendly policies.
“I’d be naive to say that it doesn’t (play a role in the issue),” Mihelcic said. “We are a safe haven, and it’s a matter of finding a balance between a safe haven and a safe community.”
“Here in Santa Fe,” Stefanics said, “immigrants are a part of our community. And they should be treated in a fair manner.”
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Meanwhile, they’re trying to destroy Joe Arpaio because he detains illegal immigrants long enough for ICE to get to them.
NM list PING! Click on the flag to go to the Free Republic New Mexico message page.
(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for anyone to use. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
(For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the article for free after watching a short video commercial.)
“Meanwhile, they’re trying to destroy Joe Arpaio because he detains illegal immigrants long enough for ICE to get to them.”
Exactly. ICE is a political tool.
Blather, blather, blather. ICE couldn’t find an illegal in a Mexican protest parade.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.