Dan Genz, The Examiner
2008-04-10 07:00:00.0
Current rank: # 2,668 of 6,251

WASHINGTON -

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., urged U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to fix the federal government’s problems with removing illegal immigrants from Prince William County’s greatly overcrowded jail.

Because federal agents have been weeks late to pick up illegal immigrants pending possible deportation, Wolf shared his “serious concern” that jail officials could be forced to release criminal illegal immigrants, saying the issue warranted Chertoff’s “immediate attention.”

“If these people are released, and some can be violent criminals, that can endanger the community, period,” Wolf told The Examiner.

“Without prompt action, the detention center will be forced to release aliens ... starting just one week from today,” Wolf said in a letter to Chertoff Tuesday. “I am troubled that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not upheld its obligations in the timely removal of illegal detainees from the detention center.”

Last month, jail officials said overcrowding and delays are so acute they might have to release illegal immigrants after 48 hours because of the federal government’s delays. The releases could begin April 15, Jail Board Chairman Patrick Hurd wrote in a letter last month. Jail and ICE officials met last week and will continue to discuss the situation, ICE spokeswoman Ernestine Fobbs said Wednesday in a statement. “Both agencies will continue to work together to facilitate a more expedient way to transition aliens ... to ICE,” she said.

Before the already overcrowded jail established its partnership with ICE to check the legal status of its inmates last summer, they signed an agreement calling for federal agents to pick up illegal immigrants within 48 hours. However, due to the lack of available bed space and the surprising number of county inmates in the country illegally, ICE agents often are taking two to three weeks to take custody. The jail is on pace for more than 1,000 inmates to be transferred to ICE this year, well above the maximum of 480 expected, jail superintendent Col. Peter Meletis said last month. The combination of immigration delays and population growth has forced the jail to move its overflow inmates to detention centers around the state, including some facilities four hours away.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com