PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — A program that investigates the legal status of arrested illegal immigrants in Prince William County will remain in place at least through June.
The jurisdiction is the only one in the U.S. to keep the 287 (g) program following efforts to cut the program in October, said Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart (At-Large).
The program uses trained jail personnel at the county’s Adult Detention Center in Manassas to investigate the immigration status of illegal aliens charged with crimes. The U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which administers the program, looked to scale back the 287 (g) program in October.
Officials in a letter told Prince William County Sheriff Glen Hill the program would be placed under review until Dec. 31. With this latest decision, the trained staff will continue to work on the program and be funded by Prince William taxpayers while working under the direction of federal customs enforcement.
“This is perhaps the most successful 287 (g) program in the country. We’ve got a stellar record,” said Stewart.
Stewart took a hard line against illegal immigrants after being elected to the Board in 2007 and said the 287 (g) has been popular with county residents across racial and ethnic lines, and with police officers because it targets illegal immigrants who and have previously committed crimes. Overall, the county has turned over 5,500 illegal immigrants who have been arrested in Prince William to customs officials since the program’s implementation, added Stewart.
Police officers in Prince William County have a separate policy when it comes to illegal immigrants, where they are permitted to inquire about the legal status of anyone arrested.
In the coming months, The Board of County Supervisors will be tasked to find a permanent replacement for the long-serving Police Chief Charlie T. Deane who retired last fall.
“Any police chief should see this as tool to fighting crime, and when we hire a new police chief we will make sure that individual is fully supportive our efforts of 287 (g), and the current police program in place,” said Stewart.
Several applicants have been interviewed for the police chief position by a routine interview panel – the names of the members of the panel were leaked to the press in October.
A list of potential police chief candidates will be presented next to the Board of Supervisors – the governing body that will make the final hiring decision.
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