Fewer Illegal Immigrants Identified In Frederick Co.
FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- Frederick County sheriff's deputies say they're arresting fewer illegal immigrants.
The Frederick News-Post reported Tuesday that the number of people identified as illegal immigrants after they were arrested for other alleged crimes fell in 2011 for the second straight year.
The sheriff's office reported 181 such cases in 2011, compared with 227 in 2010. The number peaked at 285 in 2009, the first full year of the agency's partnership with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.
Capt. Tim Clarke says it's hard to pinpoint the reasons for the decline. He says the enforcement program could be one factor. He says the slow economy could be another.
The immigrant advocacy group CASA de Maryland says the so-called 287(g) program enables local police agencies to illegally target Latinos.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
