Local police department helping ICE deport illegal immigrants (WAFF-AL)

Local police department helping ICE deport illegal immigrants

Updated: Aug 26, 2009 8:10 AM EDT

By Barbara Czura

MARSHALL COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- Illegal immigration is an ongoing issue across the United States, but the Albertville police department is doing their part, locally, to deport illegals.

Officers said four men were recently booked into the Albertville City Jail under various misdemeanor charges.

When they couldn't provide valid identification, all four were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement-- or ICE.

"It's one of those things on a local level to help out," said Albertville Police Sergeant Jamie Smith.

He said law enforcement frequently issues ICE detainers.

Officers aren't actively looking for illegal immigrants, but they are often found during patrol.

The Albertville police department averages about 5-12 detainers a week.

"Our purpose, with the undocumented people that are here, getting some type of information built on them, get them in the database that they're here," Sgt. Smith said.

He said processing illegal immigrants is an ongoing problem outside of Albertville, too.

Their department provides fingerprinting analysis, but trained ICE officers can provide a more detailed investigation.

"When they're turned over to ICE, they are taken locally from here to Gadsden, which is the closest holding facility, and to my understanding, most of them are set a court date with a magistrate," said Smith.

He said ICE removes some from the United States, while others get lucky, and remain in our court system with a red flag.