NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 4, 2007
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
TASK
FORCE SHERIFF’S CRIMINAL ALIEN PROGRAM
The Sheriff’s and Jail Administrators of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa
and Walton counties have agreed to implement a “24/7 Criminal Alien Program”
similar to that implemented by authorities in Irving, Texas.
This program includes local policies and procedures for law enforcement
officers and corrections officers to screen and report suspected illegal aliens
to the U.S. Government.
According
to US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), “The Criminal Alien Program
(CAP) focuses on identifying criminal aliens who are incarcerated within
federal, state and local facilities thereby ensuring they are not released into
the community by securing a final order of removal prior to the termination of
their sentence. “
Law
enforcement agencies in New York have also used the Criminal Alien Program with
great success. The Suffolk
County, NY sheriff stated (as quoted on www.Suffolklife.com), "Since
we instituted this program, we almost tripled the amount of illegal aliens we
turn over to the feds."
Under
the local program, agencies implement a streamlined system for identifying and
reporting criminal aliens, which then allows ICE Detention and Removal Officers
(DRO) to quickly identify the status of criminal aliens and begin removal
proceedings. In cases where criminal
aliens are eligible for bail, DROs can place holds on them and transfer them to
federal custody.
The
participating agencies used a variety of means in the past to report suspected
illegal aliens. This new program
will ensure a standardized reporting system that will allow more efficient and
expeditious processing.
For more information contact Inspector George Collins at 651-7410.