For the past three years, the Orange County Sheriff's Department has
been screening inmates for their immigration status. During that
time, we have screened over 200,000 inmates and placed immigration
holds on over 11,000. Contrary to popular belief, they come from
every nation in the world--not just from our neighbor to the south.
These are criminal illegal immigrants and over 90% are deported. Only
6% of that population have returned to our jails--a very low
recidivism rate. While I understand and share the frustration of many
of our residents on the unfairness of people who enter this country
illegally, while others, who follow the law, are waiting in line, the
reality is we do not have the resources to enforce immigration law--a
Federal responsibility. In communities where local law enforcement
has engaged in illegal immigration enforcement, violent crime has
soared because of the resource diversion. We also place our law
enforcement personnel and the communities we serve at risk of being
sued for racial profiling and other alleged violations of civil
rights--a taxpayer cost. I support the aggressive and successful
287(g) program in our jails and continue to fund that program.
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