WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Federal agents in just over a week removed more than 100 suspected illegal immigrants from the Prince William County jail, eliminating the immigration-related overcrowding at the Manassas facility.

The loading up of detainees in repeated trips since April 10 answered complaints from the jailhouse and Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., that the federal government was not living up to its 2007 contract with the county and taking weeks to remove inmates who should have been removed in days.

“Their response has been excellent,” said Patrick Hurd, the jail board chairman whose March 22 letter warned Immigration and Customs Enforcement that officials could be forced to release illegal immigrants without prompt federal attention because the jail had become so overcrowded.

“On April 10, we were sitting on 120 a day, and now we’re at 29,” he said Wednesday. Another pickup by ICE officials Thursday helped the jail move closer to its goal of having no inmates awaiting federal removal.

ICE has planned twice-weekly efforts to remove illegal immigrants and will better monitor the program, spokeswoman Ernestine Fobbs said.

The agency also has appointed a supervisor to work full time with the facility to ensure that the program moves smoothly, Meletis said.

As a result, the daily population of the overcrowded Manassas jail has dropped by 10 percent, allowing the jail to transfer fewer overflow inmates to other facilities. While the recent removals will reduce the need for housing inmates in other jails around the state, including in Winchester and Emporia, they will not eliminate the need for housing inmates elsewhere, because the jail system remains 200 inmates over capacity.

Removing the inmates could result in cost savings for the federal government, as the jail is requesting an 80 percent increase in the cost of housing illegal immigrants.

Hurd said the jail board needs to raise the daily rate from $64 to $115 to reflect the true cost of housing inmates in the jail, increasing an expense that had not budged for about a decade. He added, “We’re not looking to making any money off of the deal.”

dgenz@dcexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:48 AM MST on Tue., May. 6, 2008 re: "Feds unprepared for Pr. William crackdown, official says"

Examiner Reader said:
Now you see that the Fed's are not interesting as much as you thought about illegals. Once they were called out and put on notice the feds dropped the ball Its time that the county write their congressman and ask, why does the government spend 53 billion in the Virginia economy and most of it in defense contract work and not have a little more for the immigration issue. The feds are starting to sound like a Katrina swan song they have not been prepared for quite some time I suggest you go and visit the Mall in DC this week and see just home much they spend on Homeland Security then ask why not for ICE AND PWC? You down with OPM?

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1:20 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Feds unprepared for Pr. William crackdown, official says"

Karen said:
My illegals are great for my business here in New Jersey.

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6:26 PM MST on Fri., May. 2, 2008 re: "Pr. William police chief revokes portions of county immigration crackdown policy"

Examiner Reader said:
The examiner is working with Eric Byler and crew. How can the examiner remain fair and impartial?

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2:26 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "Pr. William police chief revokes portions of county immigration crackdown policy"

Examiner Reader said:
The Washington Post yesterday claimed in their Metro front-page headline that �Police Officers Can Question Crime Suspects About Their Residency Only After They Are Arrested.� Except that the Examiner clearly notes that Prince William County police officer retain the discretionary right to check "residency" status at traffic stops, though they are no longer required to do so. Perhaps the Examiner can help the Post out in getting the story straight.

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3:19 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Another circus expected on eve of Pr. William crackdown vote"

Bobby said:
How much clearer can things by in this nation by now? Any politician who continues to enable illegal immigration,(it doesn't if it's old Harry or Janice with the smile from ear to ear)needs to be thrown out. And any politician who fights for American citizens, duh, should be re-elected. What is it with people. We either force the elites in this nation to respect the laws we have put into effect for OUR BENEFIT,or we become very very, uncooperative. Period.

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9:40 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Lawyers advise immigrants before Pr. William crackdown"

Jimi said:
Put in the cameras. They will pay for themselves the first time the ACLU files a lawsuit against the city. With one dismissal, the city will have saved enough to pay for the whole fleet. Use your heads people!

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8:45 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Another circus expected on eve of Pr. William crackdown vote"

Buzzm1 said:
According to the Prince William school system, enrollment in the English for speakers of other languages, or ESOL, program dropped by 759 between September and March 31. It was the first known instance of a decline in ESOL students, said Irene Cromer, a schools spokeswoman. During that period, 623 ESOL students from Prince William enrolled in Fairfax schools, compared with 241 in the same period the previous year. Eighty-three enrolled in Arlington, and 75 signed up in Alexandria, the latter up from 10. Twenty-three ESOL students from Prince William enrolled in Loudoun County, officials there said. School officials in Fairfax and Arlington said the new students are scattered across a number of schools, minimizing their effect on programs and budgets. In Fairfax, for example, a net increase of about 400 students isn't so dramatic when measured against the county's overall ESOL population of more than 21,000 students. "We get about 6,000 new language-minority students a year," said

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7:05 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "Illegal-immigration crackdown in jeopardy"

Buzzm1 said:
Oklahoma Unemployment Is Way Down. Will Media Look into Why? Oklahoma's unemployment rate, which was a seasonally adjusted 4.3% and 4.4%, respectively, in September and October 2007 (4.1% and 4.2% unadjusted), has fallen to a seasonally adjusted 3.1% in both February and March of this year (3.5% and 3.2% unadjusted). The unemployment rate in most states has gone up from September 2007 to March 2008. In states where the rate has gone down, none has shown an improvement like that seen in the Sooner State -- not even close. Why is that? What has happened in Oklahoma that hasn't happened elsewhere? Well, one thing Oklahoma did last year was to pass an enforcement-focused immigration reform law. It did so in May, and it took effect in November.

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7:00 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "Illegal-immigration crackdown in jeopardy"

Buzzm1 said:
The Bottom Line on Illegal Imigration is RED As with all states, education is California's single largest public expenditure and commands 42% of that state�s $150 billion budget. The State of California's Legislative Analyst's Office reports that of the state's 6.4 million K through 12 public school students, one out of four is not fluent in English. Of that number, 85% are Spanish speaking. Additionally, one out of nine of these students require special education programs. These children of Spanish speaking foreign immigrants increase California's K-12 enrollment by 21.3%, nearly 1.4 million students. At $11,584 each, which is the state�s 2007-2008 budgeted allocation per student, the cost of educating these students is $15.8 billion. Add in the $1.3 billion for special programs to accommodate non-English speaking students, and the cost increases to $17.1 billion. The state's current budget deficit is projected to be $16 billion.

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4:15 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "Immigration agents address jail overcrowding in Prince William"

Examiner Reader said:
One PWC legal resident is quoted from another forum as saying: The jail is back to a manageable population. The ESOL classes are diminishing, thus saving the school system money. Crime is diminishing. There�s less trash on the streets. There are places to park in the neighborhoods. Employers have to hire legal residents at a decent wage, now (or import the illegals from Fairfax). Joggers and baby strollers are back on the side streets. What�s not to like about this resolution?

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6:29 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 14, 2008 re: "Wolf urges ICE to fix deportation delays"

Examiner Reader said:
I believe that if you are here illegal AND commit a crime then yes you should be deported. But if they have not hurt anyone then who are you who unless you are 100% Native American to force them to leave. Have you ever given a thought on WHY they were here? Maybe in their country they can't afford to pay for treatment for cancer or some disease. Or possibly were threatened by gangs that they would be killed if they didn't pay them money that they don't have.Why did your great great great grandparents come here? For the same reason immigrants come here today.Why fill jails with people trying to make a new life for themselves and work to provide for their families.Wouldn't you want rapeist and murderers taken in instead.Why should you be so against people trying to make a better life for their family. Isn't that what you are doing also? Its not their fault some people think they are too good for moewing lawns or cleaning houses.They take jobs Americans turn their head to. WHAT WOULD

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9:00 AM MST on Sun., Apr. 13, 2008 re: "Police check nearly 90, nab 41 in illegal immigrant crackdown"

lol said:
Who in the right mind would identify themselves as an illegal alien if they are legal? Saying "I'm illegal" as a joke in PWC is like screaming out "Bombs!" in an airport.

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7:38 AM MST on Sun., Apr. 13, 2008 re: "Crackdown on illegal immigration set to begin on March 3 in Prince William"

Examiner Reader said:
I wish they would crackdown in Florida! If I broke a law in this country I would be punished, but not illegals. They get all the bread and butter, non taxed of course. One of the reasons our dollar is worthless!

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7:05 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "Wolf urges ICE to fix deportation delays"

Examiner Reader said:
Congressman Wolf is right at point with this issue. This is a public saftey isssue. Frank Holtz Leesburg

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2:58 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Jail overcrowding, delays could alter crackdown"

FedupinVA said:
The illegals belong in a federal prison since they commit a felony by sneaking into the country in the first place. They are all criminals for the same reason. So what we are hearing is, because "they do not pose a threat", we shouldn't bother arresting them. They are hear ILLEGALLY. So, what, we don't enforce the laws because they're not "harming anyone"??? What about the citizens that are paying for them with their tax dollars? The fact that we pay taxes and they abuse our services, isn't "harming" anyone? Please. ICE needs to step up to the plate and do what they agreed to do. Deport them if their illegal. Period. Take the water jugs out of the dessert, put troops on the border, build the wall and stop the invasion.

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8:28 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Prince William County books 393 illegal immigrants"

Examiner Reader said:
I agree with the reader that said "to the legal!! reader...maybe you should go visit other countries where people live in poverty then I think you will understand that they don't have the money to become legal....I'm an immigrant too and it's not an easy process. My family workes their butts off to be able to afford to become legal...sorry not every immigrant has a person with money to go cry to about." It is very expensive to become a citizen, I am positive if was made affordable than we would not be have this issue. It took me 5 years and around 10,000 to be a "legal" citizen.

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6:25 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Police check nearly 90, nab 41 in illegal immigrant crackdown"

Examiner Reader said:
Whoever said enforcing immigration laws would create fear in the "immigrant" community are dead wrong. Criminals know there is no longer a safe haven. The new PWC laws have illegal aliens running for cover, which is how it should be all over the country. Superb job PWC and keep up the good work. I only the Prince Georges County would follow your lead.

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7:47 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Immigrant population drops at Pr. William public schools"

The Minutemen are coming!!!!!!!!! said:
Awesome news, thankfully they are leaving.

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6:12 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Immigrant population drops at Pr. William public schools"

Examiner Reader said:
Good for Prince Williams, they don't have to pay more tax for more bus and more schools for those who come to the counties look for free education, housing and take away jobs from local residents.

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6:07 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Police chief, Mexican consul to meet with area immigrants"

Examiner Reader said:
In montgomery county, county executive Ike Leggett provides $4 millions a year to fund CASA de Maryland. THis organizations look for jobs for illegal immigrants and provide them with Maryland official identification card. MD DMV is instructed to provide these illegals with CASA ID with driver licenses. With the driver license, you apply to vote . Maryland law also prohibits hospital to turn away patient in emergency care. Therefore hospitals in prince george county go bankrupted because of free medical services provided to everybody regardless of citizenship . If MD taxpayers do not have to pay a single dollar of tax, then it is fair game....

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10:55 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

Redcorn said:
If U dont ubderstand my statment than you clearly dont know your American History and the relevance it has to to today society, Hopefully people are educated enough to Comprehend and Analysis the connection.

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3:31 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 28, 2008 re: "Police chief, Mexican consul to meet with area immigrants"

Examiner Reader said:
The law seem clear to me. I you are not legel you go if legal nothing to worry about. CLEAR.

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4:46 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 27, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

Re: Redcorn said:
What is your point?

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4:31 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 27, 2008 re: "Prince William County books 393 illegal immigrants"

Redcorn said:
The only people who failed to make strict immigration laws and resoultions Were my ancestors the Native Americans

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7:49 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 27, 2008 re: "Police chief, Mexican consul to meet with area immigrants"

Examiner Reader said:
Why Mexican consul has to get involved in this mess ? Why can't he offer to pay for all these illegals' tuition because they are all infiltrated the US from Mexico. The police officer should ask the consul for the money to deport all these illegals. Does that make sense ?

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7:03 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

Examiner Reader said:
It's good to see our tax dollars being put to some good use.....

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7:00 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

Examiner Reader said:
That is absolutely awesome.....

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9:01 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

Examiner Reader said:
Voters take action and send these give away Democrats back to the showers. I know democrats and republicans don't agree on much but this is one we must all agree upon for the sake of the nation. We muct stand against MS-13, the Zapatistas, and the other bandits, the Yakuza, the Russian mafia. All illegals must be checked and checked hard. The time for playing is over. Federal, state, and local governments must uphold the law.

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12:46 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

Examiner Reader said:
Maryland has a whole set of elected officials who raised property tax and income tax on its residents to support illegal immigrants. They even granted them in state tuition while their taxpayers are paying through their nose. First, Chris Van Hollen is up for election this November. Let send him home this time. I can 't wait to send Ike Leggett home too.

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9:26 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

Examiner Reader said:
To my understanding, they ARE checking the status of everyone that gets pulled over. That includes black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, etc. And my vote is "by all means." Please check my status, I have nothing to hide!

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9:23 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008 re: "ICE arrests 34 illegals in Manassas"

No. VA Resident said:
I think this is good news. Anyone who is illegal should be sent back to where they came from. It's not about race it's about Legal and Illegal. Illegals' take away from the ppl who pay taxes, and need a job among many other things. I give PW 2 thumbs up and ICE for doing a good job!

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1:25 PM MST on Sat., Mar. 15, 2008 re: "Immigration inquiries raise alarm"

Examiner Reader said:
since we are getting stupid on how to deal with illegal immigration let's go a step further check the status of every resident that the police stops. there are many ways to work with illegal immigrants and one wrong way to make this issue even more difficult.

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5:44 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 15, 2008 re: "Lawyers advise immigrants before Pr. William crackdown"

Examiner Reader said:
Lawyers are advising immigrants to obey all laws and avoid any behavior that would attract police attention. You needed a lawyer to tell you this??

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11:05 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 14, 2008 re: "Lawyers advise immigrants before Pr. William crackdown"

Examiner Reader said:
Let the illegal exodus begin. It's about time. Chris Cummings

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9:04 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 14, 2008 re: "Immigration inquiries raise alarm"

Examiner Reader said:
They need to check everyones immigration status when stopped regardless of color. Then let see the pro-Illegal aliens groups squeel

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6:08 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 14, 2008 re: "Cops interview illegals in noise violation, theft case"

Examiner Reader said:
Here we go....the "free" press will now go on a campaign to defend every incident involving an illegal. They will go out of their way to show that the police are wrong. How about defending the legal residents of PW County? Be prepared, stand tall, defend our county against illegal behavior. If you're a legal immigrant, welcome to PW County. We look forward to your contribution and hope to prosper along side of you and your family. If you're illegal, living in a black market society, forging W-2's to gain employment....driving without a license nor insurance, commiting other crimes in our county etc....you're not welcome here.

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6:07 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 13, 2008 re: "Cops interview illegals in noise violation, theft case"

Examiner Reader said:
Yes homeless people who are citizens can be a nuisance, play loud music, urinate in public. On the bright side they can only be charged with those offenses. However being an illegal alien you can be deported. Nobody congregates at the Route 1 in Northern Woodbrige anymore. That is a big improvement and the soccer fields near Veterans Park have gone quiet since the crackdown except for legals playing games like football and maybe soccer. American Football is a much better sport anyway. Chris Cummings

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8:43 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 13, 2008 re: "Immigrant population drops at Pr. William public schools"

FedupinVA said:
If they were here illegally, see ya later, bye. Now the schools can focus on better educating those that belong in our schools.

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7:02 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 13, 2008 re: "Prince William funds crackdown on illegals"

Examiner Reader said:
Now that PW County is cracking down on illegal immigrants, most of them will head towards Montgomery or PG County. Since Montgomery county has Mr. Ike Leggett (CE) to take these illegals under his wings and nurture them and raise our bloody taxes, the people from MC and PGC need to stand up and let Ike know that he has to take care of the needs of legal citizens first. It's seems that he does not under that word "ILLEGAL".

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4:44 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 13, 2008 re: "Prince William funds crackdown on illegals"

Examiner Reader said:
I think you all should take a trip down to D.C. Have you never seen homeless people urinating on the street? I have and guess what...they weren't HISPANIC they were WHITE AND BLACK imagine that. Like you have never herd black people playing loud rap about hoes and drugs? Please get realistic. More then likely you don't understand our music so get over yourselves. Oh and MS13 isn't the only gang...never herd of Bloodz and Cripz or even Ghost Town or maybe 18th Street? Please educate yourselves before talking about things you think you know.Knocked up chicks? Seriously there are so many girls "knocked" up of EVERY race. Maybe my tax dollars should go towards better education since "knocked up" doesn't seem like your use of English is any better then an immigrant.

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6:18 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Immigrant population drops at Pr. William public schools"

Examiner Reader said:
Thanks alot PW County1. Now we will have more here in Lord Fairfax County. Maybe Connolly will open his home to them

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10:08 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Prince William funds crackdown on illegals"

Examiner Reader said:
How do you say "good by" in Mongolian? In the case of Miner and his illigal Mongolian girlfriend, she should be Deported because she broke the immigration laws in the U.S. She accepted the deal (more than a conspirator).

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8:18 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Crackdown on illegal immigration hitting its stride"

FedupinVA said:
To "Leave them alone". I care if they are here illegally and so should you. Unless you don't care about them breaking the law. They need to go to THEIR ouw countries and protest THEIR governments for help and reform. Tell me what is so good about MS-13, abuse of our Tax Paid Government Programs and them not paying taxs! I will "Leave them alone" when their out of the U.S. illegally and back legally.

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8:01 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Immigrant population drops at Pr. William public schools"

Examiner Reader said:
now if other towns will follow prince william counties lead mabe we can make a dent in a problem that has been going on for far to long, towns need to stop provi