Today, February 6, 2006, U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (NC-9), Mecklenburg County (NC) Sheriff Jim Pendergraph, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey S. Jordan announced at a press conference a new program that will federalize ten Mecklenburg County Deputies so that they can help ICE detain and remove illegal aliens.

© ICE

“This new program changes how North Carolina responds to illegal aliens,” said Rep. Myrick. “We have a shortage of federal agents to deal with illegal aliens in our state, and this program provides us with some much needed back up. My hope is that every county in North Carolina sees what we are doing here and applies to set up a similar program with ICE.”

"Officials in Washington, D.C., will train ten deputies to carry out certain duties traditionally handled by federal immigration officers. The Mecklenburg County Sherriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies will operate within the Mecklenburg County Jail facilities to interview foreign national inmates to determine whether there is probable cause for an immigration violation; complete the processing for criminal aliens, including fingerprinting; prepare documentation to place aliens in deportation proceedings concurrent with their prison term; and prepare documentation to deport aliens following their terms. In addition, they will refer criminal aliens to the ICE Office of Investigations for potential criminal prosecutions."

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