Posted on 05/05/2011 5:38:08 PM PDT by moonshinner_09
San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey will start releasing low-level illegal-immigrant criminals from jail even if federal officials notified through a controversial fingerprint identification program request that they be held for a deportation hearing.
The new policy, set to begin June 1, is meant to uphold San Francisco’s sanctuary ordinance, which prohibits local officials from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement with enforcing immigration laws unless it involves a felony.
“I’m trying to enforce San Francisco’s city of refuge law,” Hennessey said. “The city of refuge law says we are not supposed to comply with federal officials except with felonies. I’m just doing our best to enforce local law. That’s my job.”
Federal officials have been able to circumvent sanctuary city policies throughout the country through a program called Secure Communities. That program allows ICE to monitor fingerprint data collected during the booking process and put holds, known as “detainers,” on people they believe to be illegal immigrants.
Since the program took effect in June 2010 until February, 111 people identified through the Secure Communities were deported after it was found they committed no crime at all except for being in the country illegally, according to the most recent ICE data. Federal officials deported 54 people who committed the lowest two levels of crimes, such as shoplifting, drinking in public and drug possession, while 76 people who had committed felonies had been deported.
As it is now, sheriff’s deputies holds low-level criminals until ICE picks them up. Once the new policy takes effect, however, sheriff’s deputies will release them from jail with a citation just as they would a U.S. citizen, even with an ICE detainer.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfexaminer.com ...
deputies will release them from jail with a citation why even bother it’s not like they intend to come back and pay it.
All we need is a rider on the next budget bill that eliminates ALL federal monies for any jurisdiction that refuses to enforce immigration law.
Ping!
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