More on the Local Immigration Front

The Butler County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office has been granted federal authority to arrest and detain suspected illegal immigrants pending training of local deputies and the signing of a formal agreement. The power has been granted to only eight other local-level law enforcement agencies in the United States. But with that power comes concern from some community leaders worried that racial profiling could become a greater problem than illegal immigration. Sheriff Richard K. Jones’ office was notified Wednesday that his request for those powers under the Immigration and Nationality Act had been approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office. ICE will now provide the sheriff’s office with training and “direct authority to identify, process and, when appropriate, detain immigration offenders” encountered during regular, daily law enforcement activities, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. “I’m elated. I’ve been waiting for this for a year and a half. It’s been a long time coming, but finally, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office is going to have the authority to enforce what some have said we would never have the authority to enforce,” Jones said. “Those naysayers should never underestimate the sheriff’s office.” Click here for the story (free subscription required).

The Joe Hodnicki’s Law Librarian Blog has some interesting background on this development.  Click here to check it out.

KJ