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butterbean · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 2271

Orange County Supervisors today voted to have between one and two dozen Sheriff’s deputies trained to check the immigration status of people booked into the Orange County jail.

The cooperative program with Immigration and Customs Enforcement is one Costa Mesa council members have said they would copy with the city’s police department, but Costa Mesa has not drafted an agreement with federal authorities.

The supervisors approved the immigration agreement in a 3-1 vote, with Supervisor Lou Correa dissenting. Supervisor Tom Wilson was not at the meeting.

Under the program, between 12 and 24 deputies working in the jail will receive federal training to check the immigration status of foreign nationals who are charged with crimes.

Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona said the program will make the community safer by taking criminals off the streets and ensuring they get deported after serving their jail time.

Opponents of the program, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Orange County Congregation Community Organization, argued that the immigrant community, and particularly crime victims or witnesses, will be afraid to cooperate with police for fear of deportation.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor has said he wants to move forward with the city’s plan, but it may hinge on the November council elections. It took the county several years to work out the federal agreement approved today, and Costa Mesa will have at least one new council member after the election.

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2006/10/17/breaking_news/doc453543a241bfd220429416.txt