Immigration Director Critical Of County Detainee Policy
By aaroncynic in News on Jan 13, 2012 7:00PM
U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton criticized Cook County’s illegal immigration policy in a letter to County Board President Tony Preckwinkle, the Sun-Times reports. The letter, dated Jan. 4, says Cook County’s policy of ignoring immigration detainers “undermines public safety in Cook County” and “may also violate federal law.”
In September, county commissioners passed an ordinance which describes "detainers" as requests to hold suspects up to 48 hours for possible deportation proceedings, rather than as arrest warrants. Critics of the ordinance have pointed to the case of Saul Chavez, who was charged in a hit and run crash which killed a 66-year-old man last summer. Chavez was released on $25,000 bond and disappeared shortly after.
The family of the deceased says that Chavez would still be in custody if the County hadn’t changed its policy. Preckwinkle disagrees and said while she is outraged over the case and that her heart goes out to the family, it was the low bond that allowed Chavez to abscond. The Board President stands by the County’s decision, highlighting the use of such detainers as fear mongering.
Preckwinkle said, “I’m angry because people are trying to use this complicated issue to divide our communities. This type of fear-mongering is distasteful, and it has no place in the public policy arena.”