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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > April > 07 > Entry
Sheriff counts on illegal immigrants to balance budget
This story in Sunday’s Columbus Dispatch takes a look at the financial toll of illegal immigration, including the revenue benefit it gives to the Butler County jail.
According to the article, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office billed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) roughly $3.2 million to house and transport detainees last year.
Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones is quoted heavily in the article:
“It would be very difficult to do without” the ICE contract, said Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones, an outspoken critic of illegal immigration. “I would, but I’d have to lay people off. And I’d have to cut my prison population.”
On the other side:
“It’s hypocritical,” said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. “It’s a two-faced approached to justice. On one hand, these men and women put up a big face about immigrants not coming into our country. And on the other, their pockets are filling up with money.”
Furthermore:
Local jails’ use of ICE funds to offset costs “does not bode well for Latinos who live in those communities,” said Ricardo Meza, regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. “The need to obtain federal ICE funds will no doubt increase unlawful targeting of Latino drivers and persons by local police, thus leading to racial profiling.”
Responds Jones:
Jones said he’s aware of the criticism. “You get the typical complaints: ‘You’re a racist. You’re a bigot. You’re profiling,’” the sheriff said. “I’ve sent out a memorandum. If (the deputies) were doing that, I’d fire them.” The solution for illegal immigrants is simple, he said: “Come here legally. Don’t violate the law. Become a U.S. citizen.”
There’s a lot more to the article. Read it at the link at the beginning of this post then come back and let us know: What do you think?
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County Sheriff's Department
Comments
By Rod
April 7, 2009 9:07 PM | Link to this
Any time a Hispanic driver passes a Butler County sheriff’s deputy you can here the sound of a cash register ringing. Stay tuned, next we’ll here the Justice Department is investigating King Richard for civil rights violations.
By John
April 7, 2009 9:11 PM | Link to this
Maybe Rick could get his puppet State Representative Corky Combs to introduce a bill making it a violation for Hispanics to drive, call it DWH (Driving while Hispanic).
By Put up or shut up
April 7, 2009 11:01 PM | Link to this
To those who cry foul and allege racial profiling prove it, else quit making allegations as the only thing protecting each of you from libel/slander is that Jones is a public official. And, sorry, but part of the problem with this genearations legal immigrants is their unwillingness to assimilate and their willingness to break this county’s existing laws by acting as patrons to support the illegal entry of more. Frankly, that’s wrong.
By Detri
April 8, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
Let me think a minute, on one page the sheriff opposes red-light cameras because it’s an invasion of privacy and a money maker for the cities. On the next page the sheriff is locking up Hispanics so he can make money from the federal government for proving them with jail lodging. Isn’t there some mental confusion here on the part of our sheriff?
By Tim
April 8, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it’s most likely a duck. If the sheriff is locking up Hispanics in the large numbers reported in the Hamilton Journal then it’s pretty clear that every Hispanic seen by a member of the sheriffs department is a suspected illegal alien. That will always lead to people wondering about profiling and racism. The answer here is for the sheriff to do the job he was elected to do and is specified in Ohio Revised Code and leave immigration to the federal government to enforce.
By But blame where blame is due
April 8, 2009 3:37 PM | Link to this
Fair of not, the duck analogy better supports a conclusion that higher percentages of Butler County’s Hispanic residents are illegal. High incarceration numbers also suggest that far too many legal residents and opportunistic employers are providing safe harbors too. Yet, profiling is alleged. Why? So illegal aliens can drive, work and live more freely among us than they already do now. Sorry, I don’t blame Jones for upholding this nation’s laws. I blame those who break them and those who enable it to occur. And, I’m far from alone in that view.
By gary
May 5, 2009 12:50 AM | Link to this
Please don’t come to Ohio. No more illegal immigrant sob stories! Nobody here cares how bad your life is in your country, or if you have to leave your child in America to go back to your country. Life in Ohio is not great. We don’t want you here! You have already helped bankrupt California. You are not bankrupting Ohio and amnesty will only lead to more immigrants. We are not stupid. GOOOOO HOOOMEEE AND FIGHT FOR CHANGE!