Va. Jails Now Check Immigration Status of Foreign Inmates

A Virginia law took effect this month which requires local jails to contact ICE to check the immigration status of all foreign-born inmates, irrespective of whether they are in the country legally. While the law hasn’t received as much attention as the 287(g)-related illegal alien crackdown in Prince William County, Va., it will benefit other jurisdictions seeking to identify and deport illegal alien inmates. The law may not have the force multiplier effect that results from Prince William’s policy, however.

The measure, which was sponsored by State Delegate David Albo (R), requires officers in charge of jails or correctional facilities to ask people in custody if they were born in or are citizens of the United States and to make immigration alien queries to ICE for people who were born elsewhere or citizens of other countries. Jail officers must communicate the results of the query to the Local Inmate Data System of the Virginia State Compensation Board. The Board then must communicate, on a monthly basis, which inmates have been confirmed as being illegally present to the state’s Central Criminal Records Exchange and to ICE. ...