LA County Jail Focuses on Immigration Screening

LA County has received funding to expand screening for removable immigrants. Anna Gorman reports in the LA Times:

The inmates sit on a metal bench in a converted cell at a Los Angeles County jail. Many have served their time and are ready for release. But not before a quick interview.

Where were you born? Have you ever been deported? Did you know that a judge had ordered you to leave the country?

Sheriff's officials, who have been trained by federal authorities to screen for illegal immigrants at the jail, have interviewed nearly 20,000 inmates since the controversial program began more than two years ago. They have referred 10,840 people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation.

Last week, the Sheriff's Department received $500,000 in county funding to expand the jail screening and to increase the number of interviewers from eight to 13. Click here for the full story.

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