Illegal immigrants arrested in Anne Arundel now are more likely to get deported under a new county policy.
“This is consistent with the interest in helping to identify and deport illegal immigrants, and those who commit crimes should be at the top of the list,” said County Executive John R. Leopold.
The county weekly reports foreign-born inmates to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. This allows some inmates to be released prior to ICE determining the inmate?s immigration status.
The new policy has Anne Arundel notifying ICE upon the arrest of a foreign-born person.
Between Jan. 1 and March 5, the county released three inmates to ICE.
Since the policy went into effect March 6, 13 of 45 foreign-born inmates have been turned over to immigration officials, which could begin the deportation process.
Leopold called the policy “successful” in curbing illegal immigration.
But some see Anne Arundel?s policy as “pre-emptive” and should be done by federal officials.
“It appears more sweeping and to ferret out anyone not born here. It?s basically, shoot first, ask questions later,” said Cynthia Groomes-Katz, a Silver Spring-based immigration lawyer.
Groomes-Katz said ineffective federal immigration policies have forced local governments to start “basically deputizing local police officers as immigration agents.”
The policy also could deter immigrants from reporting crimes to police for fear of being deported, said Kim Propeack, advocacy director for CASA de Maryland, an immigrant advocacy group.
But Leopold said the detention centers would follow the law and not be discriminatory.
The Washington Post reported last week that Montgomery police arrested an illegal immigrant and member of the notorious Salvadoran MS-13 gang twice and released him on bail, because the county does not check for immigration status.
The man later was arrested for attempted murder in Prince William County, Va., which has a similar stance on illegal immigration as Anne Arundel. That man now is awaiting deportation.
Leopold also said that in the upcoming budget, he plans to dedicate funding for a county police officer to working with ICE in Baltimore City on immigration issues. He created the position last November.
“Also in the upcoming budget, I will be providing assistance to at least one organization that will help legal immigrants and plays by the rules,” said Leopold, who would not identify that group.
MAN WHO THREATENed gov. FORMS DEFENSE FUND
Friends of Parkville resident Walter Abbott, the man who threatened to the strangle Gov. Martin O?Malley, have started a defense fund to help him pay legal bills.
“Manydefendants have done this kind of thing … and people say they want to help,” said Arthur Frank, Abbott?s attorney.
Abbott is charged with writing and sending a threat to a public official. State officials called Abbott?s word a credible threat.
Many Examiner readers have decried Abbott?s actions, calling him a terrorist, and supported him, calling him a hero.
Frank said Abbott?s fees could range between $5,000 and $15,000, depending on the nature of the trial.
A spokesman for O?Malley and the Baltimore County State?s Attorney?s Office declined to comment.
