ICE agents checking Fresno jail releases

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims on Thursday announced that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stationed in the Fresno jail are monitoring the entry and exit of arrested undocumented immigrants in an effort to keep dangerous offenders off the streets.

Mims said the program, implemented June 22, allows the agents to assess whether those arrested are in the county legally and examine their criminal history to “make a decision about how [the agents] would proceed” in terms of authorizing a release or recommending deportation.

In announcing the program, which she said is one of a few in the nation, the sheriff made reference to the controversial release of Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez by San Francisco County Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi. Lopez-Sanchez was released in April although he had previous convictions for multiple felonies. He was rearrested last week after a woman was shot to death at Pier 14 on the San Francisco waterfront.

While the Fresno County program was implemented before the shooting, Mims said the San Francisco slaying “sends the message that these kinds of partnerships are important.”

As part of the program, ICE agents have access to inmate records and interview rooms inside the jail. They can conduct background checks and determine if an inmate is eligible for deportation by looking at current charges and past convictions. Previously, according to the sheriff’s office, ICE asked the sheriff’s office for notification whenever a “person of interest” was scheduled for release, and ICE agents would decide whether to pick up the person. Mims said time lags in the old system made it more likely that a dangerous offender would slip through the cracks.

ICE Assistant Field Director Jose M. Correa Sr., who appeared at a news conference with Mims, said undocumented immigrants that come under scrutiny are categorized as “Level 1” and “Level 2.” Level 1 would include those convicted of crimes such as rape and child sex offenses. Level 2 would include convictions such as domestic violence and multiple counts of driving under the influence.

Correa said the regional ICE office in Fresno has 18 agents and is responsible for an area from Merced to Tulare and Kings counties. He said the pilot program with the Fresno sheriff’s office is an effective use of limited resources.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 2:27 PM with the headline "ICE agents checking Fresno jail releases."