NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A controversial immigration
enforcement program has been around for one year, and on Monday
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall said there has been major
progress. At the same time others believe that this program
violated the civil rights of a number of people.
Few cities in teh country have it. Now Nashville does. Its
called the 287-G program.
"It allows officers who are trained to work in the jails to
now screen all of the arrestees on their immigration status,"
says Sheriff Hall.
Before the program started 150 criminals were flagged as
being in the United States illegally. After 287-G was
implemented that number jumped to 3,000 in one year.
"All of these individuals were first arrested for a crime,
brought to jail, and then screened, and determined to be here
illegally," says Sheriff Hall.
"About one-fourth, or over 600 people have prior arrest
histories for crimes such as homicide, robbery, aggravated
assault, burglary, drugs, or weapons," says Metro Police Chief
Ronal Serpas.
Despite the high numbers, there have been growing pains with
the one-year old program. Some (our comment: mainly those who
advocate and/or profit from open borders) believe logistical
issues are violating some people's civil rights.
"When a person is arrested for a crime, they have the right
to an immediate bond hearing in front of a magistrate downtown,"
says
immigration attorney
Elliott Ozment.
With 287-G, the bond hearing doesn't always happen for
illegal immigrants. Many are sent to Louisiana to face an
immigration judge or bused to Memphis.
"They are detained sometimes as long as six weeks, before
they get a bond hearing, that has to stop," says Ozment.
Sheriff Hall says Metro has a solution.
"Nashville needs an immigration judge," he says.
Sheriff Hall also said he believes an immigration judge in
Nashville could expedite cases, cut down on delays in court
proceedings and reduce federal transportation costs.
Federal lawmakers are now getting involved in that fight.
"It makes no sense to taxpayers to take 3,000 people, and
send almost all of them to Oakdate, Alabama, which is a 26-hour
bus ride - some of them are housed in Perry, Alabama - and bring
all of them back here," says Sen. Lamar Alexander.
Hall fought a lot of federal beaurocracy to get the 287-G
program to Nashville, and it should be an equally tough fight to
get an immigration judge here. Currently, there is no timeline
on when that could become a reality.
Lawmakers like Lamar Alexander, Marsha Blackburn and Jim
Cooper continue to work in Washington to make it happen.
Source:
News Channel 5
