Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Task force nixes immigrant detention facility
The group instead recommended incentives for sheriffs to house illegal offenders in existing jails.
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roanoke.com/politics
RICHMOND -- Virginia should not have a stand-alone detention facility for illegal immigrants who commit crimes, but should instead make it easier for willing localities to hold undocumented offenders until the federal government deports them, a state task force determined Tuesday.
Three weeks after first proposing the idea, a Virginia State Crime Commission task force on illegal immigration nixed a proposal for a 1,000-bed facility for illegal immigrants who otherwise would serve time in local jails. Under the proposal, the federal government would finance the facility's construction through housing fees for prisoners.
"I don't know that there's a lot of support in the General Assembly or in the public to build a stand-alone facility for illegal immigrants in Virginia, and I'm not sure that the reimbursement rate would cover the cost," said state Sen. Ken Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, the co-chairman of the task force.
Asked after the meeting about the apparent lack of public support for such a facility, Stolle said: "I think they envision some sort of concentration camp. ... I don't know that I disagree with that image."
The task force instead recommended incentives for local sheriffs who are willing to house illegal immigrant offenders in city, county or regional jails. The panel proposed letting local and regional jails keep 100 percent of the federal housing reimbursement for those prisoners. Stolle also suggested that the state increase its reimbursement for local jail construction from 25 percent to 50 percent, matching the rate for regional jails.
"Why build a new system when we can take advantage of a current system that could have capacity to address the problem?" said Stolle, adding that he has spoken with several sheriffs who share that view.
The detention facility concept was one of more than 30 proposals the task force debated Tuesday. The group will forward its recommendations to the full commission, which will develop proposals for the 2008 General Assembly session.
The task force voted 8-7 in favor of a proposal requesting Gov. Tim Kaine to sign agreements with the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would allow state police and other Virginia agencies to assist federal authorities in detaining and removing illegal immigrants.
Kaine has balked at the idea, saying state taxpayers should not have to shoulder a federal government responsibility. Legislation similar to the task force's proposal died this year in the state Senate, and Stolle predicted it would fail again next year.
Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said state police already have effective working relationships with ICE. She said 213 of 260 illegal immigrants encountered by state police since March 1 have been deported.
"The implication has been made that we don't work with ICE, that we don't do anything to deal with illegal immigrants," Skinner said."That's just not true."
The task force heard from individuals on both sides of the illegal immigration debate, which has run particularly hot in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. William Campenni of Herndon asked the task force to consider victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants and urged the panel to be tough.
"Think of those victims past, present and future and weigh whether your vote will add to that long list of victims or reduce it," Campenni said.
But others raised concerns that strengthening enforcement could have unintended consequences for immigrants who are in Virginia legally or for undocumented victims of crime. The task force rejected a proposal that would forbid police from asking about the immigration status of a crime victim or witness.
"We're creating murky waters, where people are afraid out in the streets," said Alicia Fernandez-Bobulinski of Virginia Beach.
