Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2008 > April > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USImmigration screening ahead
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Minutes into the tour, Maj. Carl Sims had to excuse himself.
“Stay here!” the top administrator at the Gwinnett County jail yelled at me.
Off he ran down the hallway, joined by a dozen or so sheriff’s deputies.
Their destination: the kitchen area. The reason: Two of the 2,569 inmates were fighting.
Seconds later, the young men emerged, handcuffed, and were escorted away.
The altercation served up the only drama Wednesday when the Badie Tour visited the jail, located off University Parkway in Lawrenceville.
A program that screens inmates for immigration violations is what brought me there. It’s called 287(g),, and it trains local law enforcement officers how to identify illegal immigrants and to refer them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation.
At some point in October, deputies will be able to screen inmates they suspect of being here illegally. They’ll have access to federal databases that can determine criminal background and legal status.
After the illegal immigrant’s case is adjudicated, he or she will be picked up by ICE officials and transported to a holding facility in metro Atlanta. They may be deported, something many Gwinnett residents would cheer.
“This is where it all starts for 287(g),” said Sims as we stood in the prebooking area. Here, mug shots are taken and the same questions are asked of every person in custody.
“Where were you born?”
“What’s your country of origin?”
Last year, the jail processed 12,000 foreign-born inmates on charges ranging from traffic citations to homicide. Their incarceration lasted anywhere from three days - the jail average - to months and years.
“We suspect a large number were illegal.” said Sims, a former Los Angeles homicide detective. “It’s difficult to track them.”
Capt. Jon Spear joined us before we left the prebooking area. He, primarily, is responsible for making the jail’s 287(g) program a reality. He showed me a room where screening equipment had been stored, still boxed up.
“This will get the process rolling quicker,” said Spear, noting that in-house screening prevents an ICE officer from having to drive to the jail and run the checks, thus saving time.
Like Sims, Spear stressed that the only people who will be screened to confirm legal status are those who have been arrested and make it to the county jail.
“There has to be an arrest,” Spear said. “That’s the big thing that people don’t understand about the program.”
Initially, the county plans to cross-train 18 deputies for a program whose annual cost will be nearly $5 million a year. By no means is this the end-all and be-all to illegal immigration. It’s simply a mechanism till the jobs dry up that lure illegal immigrants across the border or the federal government gets a better handle on things.
I asked Spear if it makes sense to pursue 287(g) at a time when the county lacks enough deputies to fully staff Tower 1, the new jail addition. Some of the tower units are empty. Inmates occasionally have to bunk three to a unit in the original part of the facility.
“The two go hand in hand,” he said.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail:rbadie@ajc.com. �
Permalink | Comments (39) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By drey
April 10, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
There has to be an arrest? That’s the scariest part of this. Using the police to arrest pell mell latinos? I dont see how that could possibly be abused by an ambitious law official or a mob-mentality assembly, or simply that lone patrol officer with a grudge.
If there is a threat to the USA it Americans trying to change what’s already occurred. Hispanics are here. Hello. They are everywhere. There’s no solution to the tide. History is actually the ancient story of one population seeping into another and all the wars and misery that kings caused trying to stop it. It cant be stopped with or without a revolution or war. In fact all the advances civilization has made has occurred when the populations had mixed when one king invaded another. SO why not simply have the invasion without the war, and let our cultures benefit for the common good.
People do what people do. That’s all I have to say about that.
By mlimberg
April 10, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Be sure to get them all!
By LT5000
April 10, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
Saints be praised. Badie actually wrote a salient article. And there was virtually no Race baiting.
Drey, you are an idiot. We have enough citizen law breakers in this country without importing more. Check out the Gwinnett County Detention Center site.
Do you really want these illegal scumbag child molesters and drug dealers here?
Kudos to Sheriff Butchie for coming around. And it only took 18 million.
Poor Brucie though, he’s going to have to pay more for his daily intake of Mexican Chorizo behind Quik Trip.
Viva Los Estados Unidos.
LT5000
By drey
April 10, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Well!
By Gandalf, the Grey
April 10, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Over the river and through Texas to grandmothers house we go…
By Edweirdness
April 10, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
mlimberg: So what your actually suggeting is that we make Mexico the 51st. State?
Any other solution abdicates our nations sovereignty and the rights of our Citizens.
Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, failing infrastructure, overcrowded schools and emergency room, vanishing farm land and green space, crime, pollution, diminishing natural resources, lack of affordable housing, depressed wages, increased tax burdens, the balkanization of our communities, the overall decline in quality of life, are all the result of unconstrained immigration, the “invasion” as you call it. Indeed, these are the domestic problems that are of concern to America’s Citizens. I fail to see how your suggestion “SO why not simply have the invasion without the war,” would address any of these concerns. Too many people competing for limited resources has never been considered sound economic, environmental, social or cultural policy. I doubt we will see much progress in other nations developing their own democracy and establishing social justice, so long as it remains far easier and much more lucrative to slip across our border and take advantage of American tax payer largess. It remains axiomatic that it is better to “teach a man to fish, than to give him a fish”. Like it or not, America cannot accept the worlds population of poor, lazy, or disgruntled citizens.
By Mona
April 10, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
GREAT IDEA!!! Only a little late. Gwinnett MUST get a grip on the ILLEGALS…SOON & FAST. The Feds won’t do anything, so the local governments must do something to protect their citizens(LEGAL).
It’s too bad they have to be arrested first. Rememer the kid who had TB?? Well, the whole family was here illegally. We spent a fortune for their health. Did they get deported? No, only their son. The ENTIRE family was illegal. Why couldn’t they arrest them for just being illegal? They seem almost proud of it.
So, I guess for now Gwinnett will only target those arrested. That’s a shame.
Hopefully, they will be able to arrest and deport some of those ladder vans & trucks. Come on, there’s got to be a safety factor the police can get them on. 6-8 ladders on a van roof does not look safe to me. If they get arrested and deported, their families will have to do something.
No, I do not feel sorry for them They are here illegaly, therefore they are ILLEGAL. And the LEGAL immigrants who have migrated to our country have come here legally with the necessary documentation, not to mention health requirements.
Overlooking them has been the problem. They feel they can work the system, have children and/or have children who are having children VERY YOUNG. I believe they feel this gives them a ticket to our country, almost like insurance.
Hopefully, by the actions Gwinnett is going to take will cut down on the illegal immigrants.
Maybe if they catch the “kudzu” by the root, the whole plant will leave.
Come on Gwinnett and join the other counties(Cobb & Cherokee) that are actively trying to keep their citizens all LEGAL.
Just remember, the more you arrest and deport, the more “flack” you’re going to get from the hispanic leaders such as Jerry Gonzalez. In my opinion, like Cobb, you need to ignore this. In an article in Georgia Criminal Law Blog, there was an article dated July 29, 2007.
“In the four weeks since the program began, Cobb jailers and ICE have interviewed 86 inmates, placed immigration holds on 68 and started deportation proceedings against 42, Coker said. Deportation paperwork done by sheriff’s deputies must be reviewed by an immigration officer before it goes to a judge.” Out of 86, 68 immigrations holds, and 42 had deportation proceedings started…..GREAT JOB COBB!.
Gwinnett can get a grip on the illegals and turn their county around… ONLY IF THEY WANT TO.
When they do, I might move back!
By One Man's View
April 10, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
I’m sure that most illegals are here our of economic necessity. I sympathize, but no nation can maintain integrity with open or nearly open borders. The negative consequences to us have been greater than the gains. Cheap labor undermines our wages. I doubt seriously if employers hiring illegals pass on savings to us in the form of lower prices. I don’t like the fact that employers have not been held accountable for hiring illegals.
And has been pointed out, the social negatives are many. It imposes costs on us all, and not just financial. Deportation may be a simplistic solution and a case of using too big of a hammer, but is there a fair and good alternative?
By wyno
April 10, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
With the economy going down the toilet, nobody will be able to hire these illegals anymore to do their yardwork, clean their houses, etc. and the construction is coming to a screeching halt, so there goes the construction jobs. I say good riddance. In the last week, 3 of them from my subdivions were listed in the Scan Gwinnett for my zip code for “no license/no insurance.”
By Paul
April 10, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Cheap labor is a myth - we all pay for it, in the education, medical care, WIC payments, higher car insurance rates, etc. spawned by illegals. I think that the availability of this labor has also helped to allow us to become even lazier and more stupid - let somebody else do the hard work! Some credible sources have stated that around 40 percent of the unemployment of the least fortunate rung of our citizen society is due to the abundance of this labor source. This program will be a great incentive for illegals to go elsewhere - sort of like the old joke about a bus load of lawyers driving off a cliff - not the solution, but a great start.
By Peer Pressure
April 10, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Have you hugged a senorita today?
By LT5000
April 10, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
Paul,
If only they all looked like Salma Hayek. Eye- yie yie.
Someone tell Wyno that he has been reading too many Badie blogs. The economy is not going down the toilet.
Look back at the Carter years for reference. If that yokel couldn’t bring us down, no one can.
By the way, I was in court on Monday and they brought in the people from the jail for arraignment.
All minorities. With about 80% Hispanic. They all needed the court translator so they could hear that they were charged with DUI or no license/no insurance.
All I can say is good riddance.
LT5000
By Peer Pressure
April 10, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
LT5000, the most beautiful women in the world are latin women, no question. They stay amazing longer too, but then like all women they turn into aunt bea. “Andy! Goober! Opie! Put down the bong and get back to raking the front yard, or no supper for any of you!”
aw aunt bea
By Jerry
April 10, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Great program!! Just as a side note, why would it take a sworn law officer to screen the inmates? It could be done just as effectively and cheaper by a “Joe” citizen. Give me the same tools and I can probably do it from home.
By Mark
April 10, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
“We suspect a large number were illegal.” said Sims, a former Los Angeles homicide detective. “It’s difficult to track them.”
Huh??? If they have urine colored skin, and don’t speak english, they’re most likely illegal. And start by looking at the obvious mexican areas in the county. It’s not rocket science! Heck, I’ll even volunteer my time to teach the GCPD on how to spot an illegal!
By El Bubba
April 10, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
somebody should pee on you for your comment, Mark. Hey, it’s global warming, man. 98.6 all the time, man.
By Mark
April 10, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
El Bubba
Your proctologist just called. They found your head.
By Mark
April 10, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
El Bubba
Your proctologist just called. They found your head. Man.
By LT5000
April 10, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Actually, I think a good question is why Rick decided to write this op-ed now. Woody Bass did the same article 4 days ago.
I would actually be more interested in Rick going to the jail a few months after it’s implementation. Or, as mentioned before, doing a ride along with our local law enforcement.
In the last two paragraphs Badie lets his colors show. He doesn’t question the legality of the immigrants being her, but asks the jail whether it makes sense to enforce the law. Pathetic, but typical hack Badie.
LT5000
By MotherOf2
April 10, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Seems to me “illegal” is the operative word here. Illegal immigrants are breaking our laws just by being here. Why CAN’T we arrest them, just for being here? They have NO civil rights in the USA…only in their birth country(s). I’m tired of worrying about an illegal’s “rights”. What about MINE? I was born in our nation’s capital, and so were both of my parents. WE have more rights than Jose’ and Maria, yet the p.c. crowd is kowtowing to the illegals. The liberals want them here simply for their votes. That’s obvious. As was stated above, they have drained our resources, abused welfare, make ER visits nearly impossible (now it takes 6-8 hours to see a doctor, and they want payment up front!). It wasn’t like that 10 years ago. I’ll get off my soapbox now…you get my drift.
By GetReal
April 10, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
It’s not only Latinos that are at risk. There are Asians, Africans, Haitians, etc. They are ALL feeding off OUR taxes.
By Nana
April 10, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Good article Rick. But I’m with some of the bloggers here why do they have to be arrested to be processed as illegal? Like one other poster I get scan gwinnett everyday and 90-95% (if not more) are obvious Hispanic arrests. Only one time have I seen a charge for being illegal. I was so excited but haven’t seen another. Maybe I’ll see them again. But Gwinnett needs to get on this and quick before it’s too late (if it’s not already) if it weren’t for the slump in housing we’d be outta here. Once that’s better though if something hasn’t been done about these illegal immigrants (of all nationalities)we’re getting out of Gwinnett. I know the illegals are all over this area but there are many more here.
By geeez
April 10, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
Sorry people but someone violating federal immigration law by being here illegally is not a criminal offense. That is federal law, it is a civil offense, therefore local law enforcement has no authority to arrest them if they have not committed a violation of State law. Period. Don’t blame the police, blame congress. Nana, if you saw a charge of illegal on the docket book it was not an immigration violation but probably part of a charge of a state law violation.
By @@
April 10, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
geeez hits on the very point of any law: who’s going to underwrite it? Lets say atlanta passes a law outlawing illegals. Who’se gonna pay for it? Do you have any idea how expensive it would be to round these people up? Insurance companies would tell you to go soak your head. Atlanta would ruin itself for nothing. Then we’d have a humungous crowd of humantiy penned up somewhere and then what, the holocaust?
Understand what laws are and the who the why the how and the how much they are born into.
We underwrite our laws. Got it? GOOD! then drop it.
By Brent
April 10, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
What they should do is just build a wall around Norcross and let out the people who are here legally. Couldn’t be more than a couple dozen!!!!!!
By Stew
April 10, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
Every ILLEGAL Immigrant in Gwinnett county needs to be arrested and sent home now! They are lawbreakers by being here. Wake up Gwinett. Let’s vote for candidates this year who are willing to do this. It is the correct thing to do as Am,erican citizens.
By Katie
April 11, 2008 6:08 AM | Link to this
Oh my, Mark. You just made me spit my coffee up. Urine colored skin??
If people didn’t hire these people, and if we didn’t pay for their medical coverage and child birth costs, education and allow them welfare there would be less incentive to come here. If you’ve ever driven through a hispanic area, take a very close look around: garbage everywhere, mulitple cars in disrepair, vans with 1,000 ladders on top, homes in disrepair, graffiti and packs of dogs running around. They turn perfectly good neighborhoods into ghettos..
If you take away the cheese, the mice will stop coming!!!
By Lance
April 11, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
One look at Scan Gwinnett answers the effectiveness of this new program. 90% of the arrests seem to be illegals. When this new program is in effect this fall, you will see them all deported. If they are on Scan Gwinnet, they have broken the law. Bye, bye!
By Matthew from Cobb
April 11, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
I am glad to see Gwinnett County stepping up to the plate with Illegal Immigration problems. I live in cobb and the county sheriff is cracking down on illegal immigrants. One morning I was reading the Marietta Paper, I read an article about school enrollment going down. Every ethnic group lost some students and the Hispanic population lost the most kids. I wonder if the parents are being deported or leaving Cobb. When Cobb stepped up to the plate deporting illegals if they commet crime and took effect, other counties like Hall and Whitefield followed Cobb. I am glad to see Gwinnett step up. I hope that Dekalb, Clayton, Fulton, and any other counties join in too.
By GC Parent
April 11, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Is anyone concerned about an escalation in racial profiling for traffic stops ?
By Mark
April 11, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
GC Parent
No. I find racial profiling quite a useful tool in investigating someone. Blacks commit more crime in this country than any other race, so we have to be more curious of a black than a white. Blacks are more likely to have drugs with them, have no insurance, or have an outstanding warrant against them.
By C.I. Toldja
April 11, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
There’s an old saying that I would like to change a bit and offer it up to some of you on this blog:
When those around you suspect that you’re a complete idiot, why write your dialogue(s) on a public forum and remove any doubt?
Oh yes, any volunteers to assist me in my battle with State Farm to settle a claim for a totalled 2006 auto caused by one of our esteemed “Undocumented souls?” Yeah, a no English, no brains, 16 years old, ran a red light, almost killed my passenger, and, through an interpeter, demanded “his rights”, etc….honest to God!! Pardon me while I continue to heave and hurl my insides out!!! C. I.
By Michael H. Smith
April 11, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
One down and a few more to go my fellow Americans. Now onward to get GCPD on broad with 287g. Like the man said, the two go hand in hand. Only problem, not enough hands. Hopefully, by now the Commissioners and Chief Walters have benefited from this remedial public-classroom education of “Introduction to Politics 100” that the citizen of this county have given them.
Listen to what “we the people” are telling you, don’t tell us what we want or what you think we need. You just do what we tell you to do. It is your job to figure out how to get it done.
Don’t be afraid, we’ll give you a few hints to help you stay in office. (Smiling Out Loud)
By JCinDuluth
April 11, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Way to go, Mark…you da man!Great response to EL BUBBA.
I’ll wager that EL BUBBAS’S problem wasn’t discovered during a routine D.R.E.; he’s so bow-legged that the cranial problem is obvious! My thought is that his proctologist wanted to share his recent MRI results in that the AMA wants to get involved. Rest assured, this is another problem brought on by “global (non-) warming!”
Or, perhaps this whole problem with EL BUBBA may just be a case of gross stupidity brought about by a brain undergoing atrophy by having a consistently declining IQ…now below room temperature. He’s a member of the gang who have written such meaningful blogs detailed here!! JC
By Eyeonthenews
April 11, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
Scoop:
This just in from the Associated Press…
Results of a poll of Americans titled: “Do you believe there are too many illegals in the United States today?”
RESULTS:
11% Say: Hell Yes!! 89% Say: Que Dice? Demasiados? Corajo, no!! Todavia no!!
(Sorry, couldn’t duplicate the grammatical portions)
By Charles Smith
April 13, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
Racial profiling. It will be funny when they interrogate American born citizens, then you’ll see lawsuits appearing from everywhere.
By The Love Hack
April 13, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
They should have a Miss Illegal USA beauty pagaent and when they interview the contestants on tv in bathing suits, they should ask, What do you want for the world? “I want world peace, save the whales and stop slaughtering the baby seals. Oh, and Texas back.”
By BonnieY
April 24, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Can I volunteer my time to the Gwinnett Sheriff’s office to help expedite these illegals back to their country of origin? I am so sick of this beautiful county being overun by these illegals. I sooooo agree with Paul, we all end up paying for it, over and over and over in every aspect possible. The only thing happening with our economy is GREEDY individuals lining their pockets, while the rest of us subsidize the illegals and their habits and vices.
By BonnieY
April 24, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
Can I volunteer my time to the Gwinnett Sheriff’s office to help expedite these illegals back to their country of origin? I am so sick of this beautiful county being overun by these illegals. I sooooo agree with Paul, we all end up paying for it, over and over and over in every aspect possible. The only thing happening with our economy is GREEDY individuals lining their pockets, while the rest of us subsidize the illegals and their habits and vices.