Budget shortfall may delay deportation of illegal immigrants

By Andria Simmons and Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Budget woes and bureaucratic red tape may delay the start of a controversial program to identify and deport illegal immigrants from the Gwinnett County jail.

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department was among 11 agencies greenlighted last week to enter a partnership with the federal government. However, a shortage of funding could sideline the program championed by Sheriff Butch Conway and Commission Chairman Charles Bannister during the November election.

The program, called 287(g), trains deputies to screen inmates to determine their immigration status. Inmates who are in the country illegally are turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

The Sheriff's Department estimates 18 deputies will be needed to staff the program. It was unclear Monday whether the county can afford to bankroll that many deputies due to its current budget crunch.

Bannister said Monday he was "still very much in favor of the program."

"I'm quite certain the funding for that program will stay," he said.

The county eliminated 103 vacant positions in June. Another proposal the county will consider next Tuesday would cut 250 current positions — including 53 police officers — by the end of this year. Also on the table are cuts in the 287(g) program.

Bannister said funding for the program was set aside in a reserve fund and was only placed on the table for possible cuts because the county was not aware till Friday that it received federal approval.

The federal government provides software and training but does not cover staffing costs.

The Sheriff's Department is exploring other avenues for federal funding with the help of U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), said Stacey Bourbonnais, spokeswoman for the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department.

Even if county leaders can scrape together the money for 18 deputies, there is another potential hurdle.

Federal guidelines for participating in the program mandate that no inmates can be sleeping on the floor at the jail. On Monday, there were 458 inmates bunking on the floor, according to Bourbonnais.

She said seven empty units in the jail have enough space to house those inmates, but a manpower shortage has left no one to supervise them.

There may be other obstacles before the partnership can be cemented. ICE officials have not yet sent the county a revised agreement listing all of its requirements. ICE also has to complete an inspection of the jail.

County officials say the program will reduce costs by freeing up jail beds that are occupied by criminals who are illegal immigrants. Federal immigration agents conducted a 26-day targeted enforcement effort at the jail in January and flagged 915 inmates for deportation.

However, 287(g) has drawn criticism from organizations representing the Hispanic community who say it will lead to racial profiling and foster distrust of law enforcement.

Cobb, Whitfield and Hall counties and the Georgia State Patrol already participate in the program.