It’s official. Guilford County will join the federal 287 (g) program.
Sheriff B.J. Barnes says Guilford will “have a “hybrid” 287(g) program:
Under the program to begin in April, Barnes said suspects found to be illegal immigrants would not be released on bond but would be held locally until their criminal charge is resolved in court.
Once that happens, the suspects would then be handed over to ICE officials for the deportation process.
In find it interesting that Commissioner Skip Alston says this was the first time he’s heard of Guilford’s plan to join 287(g), considering the fact that Barnes applied for the program in April 2007 and has been talking about it ever since. As for pressure on the county jail, we’re building a brand-spanking new one, with the help of a $115 million bond passed in May. Probably later rather than sooner, but it’ll get built, eh?
