Marietta Daily Journal
MARIETTA, Georgia -- Cobb Sheriff Neil Warren signed an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Monday to begin identification of illegal immigrants who enter Cobb County Jail.
The pact also provides special training to deputies to allow them to begin deportation of illegal immigrants.
Cobb's approval of the program makes it the first in the state to gain access to federal immigration data and one of only seven governments nationwide to garner federal approval.
Cobb commissioners approved a resolution Oct. 24 that gave Warren approval to enter the program - a rarely used section of the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act.
"Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, but when illegal immigrants come into our community and commit crimes, it becomes a local enforcement issue and we will not hesitate to use all of the tools at our disposal to ensure the safety of our citizens and the enforcement of our laws," Warren said in a written statement Monday.
Posted by tyne at February 14, 2007