County Officials At Odds Over Immigration Detainee Policy
By aaroncynic in News on Feb 10, 2012 9:30PM
In a Thursday hearing, Cook County officials tried to tackle the issue of suspected undocumented immigrants making bail and then being locked up once again for other crimes. The Chicago Tribune reports since an ordinance was passed in September, County Jail authorities have ignored requests to hold suspected undocumented immigrants arrested for other crimes. Since then, the county released 376 suspects after they posted bond, 11 of which were later arrested for other crimes.
Cook County Sherriff Tom Dart argued for changing the ordinance so suspected undocumented immigrants charged with other crimes could be held for federal deportation hearings, despite making bail. Dart said “Clearly, there are some offenses that people agree are of a minor nature, other offenses that are more serious and, those more serious ones, we should deal with them differently.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle feels differently and said detaining people beyond what the law states is unconstitutional. In an interview, Preckwinkle said “We should have equality under the law for people who are documented and undocumented.” Last month Preckwinkle responded to criticism of the county's policy by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton, who said the county's stance “undermines public safety in Cook County” and “may also violate federal law.”
Preckwinkle at that time 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."