Illegal Immigrants in Virginia's Jails
The September 7 issue of the Virginia Municipal League’s Update reports, “illegal immigrants are 6-10% of (Virginia’s) jail population." In fact, the Arlington jail was one of “the ‘top 10’ in numbers of illegal immigrants held.” According to VML’s “Update:”
“A State Crime Commission report shows that illegal immigrants make up 6 percent of the inmates in Virginia jails. The staff report to the commission’s illegal immigration task force, however, concluded that 6 percent was a conservative number and that the figure could be as much as 10 percent. The task force met Aug. 28 in Richmond.”
However, VML also reported:
“Some jail administrators disputed the report, according to an article in the Daily Press of Newport News. The jail administrators cited said that the number of illegal immigrants reflects the fact that the jails have a contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Under the contracts, the jails house suspected illegal immigrants who are undergoing a possible deportation process.”
We searched the Virginia Crime Commission’s website, but could not locate even a 'draft' copy of the report. We would like to see how that 6-10% illegal immigrant population translates into taxpayer dollars.
UPDATE (9/9/07): Here is AP's story from Sunday's Washington Times, which questions the statistics on jailed illegals.