Statistics on jailed illegals questioned

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RICHMOND (AP) — Hispanic leaders are questioning statistics released by the Virginia State Crime Commission that estimate as many as one-tenth of the inmates in state jails and prisons are illegal aliens.

Based on a presentation late last month by the commission's Illegal Immigration Task Force, illegal aliens comprise between 6 percent and 10 percent of the state's jail and prison population.

But jail administrators said the task force's findings don't match their experience.

The report listed the top 10 jails where illegal aliens were held in the 2007 fiscal year. The Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth ranked No. 4.

The task force said the regional jail had more than 1,000 illegal aliens this past year, or 8 percent of its overall population.

The statistic is misleading, jail officials say, because the jail has a contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to hold suspected illegal aliens while they are processed for possible deportation.

"The other inmates we house here are American citizens," said Moses Pollard, the jail's assistant superintendent.

Half the jails on the task force's "Top 10" list have inmate populations consisting of more than 5 percent illegal aliens, the Daily Press of Newport News said. The others have between 3 percent and 5 percent.

"They were giving me the impression that we are criminals, and I think that's unfair," said the Rev. Jose Eugenio Hoyos of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

Father Hoyos is listed as a citizen member of the crime commission task force but said he was not involved in the research or preparation of the statistics.

Hispanic advocates noted that a day after the report was issued, Republican legislators announced a proposal that would crack down on illegal aliens in jail.

Delegate David Albo, Fairfax Republican and the task force's chairman, was among those promoting a legislative package targeting illegal aliens who have committed crimes.

Included are proposals denying bail to suspected illegal aliens, and to have federal immigration officials train sheriff's deputies so that at least one deputy on every jail shift is authorized to detain illegal aliens and begin deportation proceedings.

J. Scott Leake, executive director of the Senate Republican Leadership Trust, said the task force findings and the legislative proposal are linked.

"It's all one big package," Mr. Leake said. "You can assume that if 10 percent of the prison population are illegal [aliens], that 10 percent of the arrests are illegals. So when you look at crime statistics, you have to think of how many illegals would rather not show up for trial and face deportation."