Las Vegas NowMetro Calls Deportation Program a Success

Metro Calls Deportation Program a Success

The deportation program, 287g, has been running for a little more than two months at the Clark County Detention Center. Under 287g, certain officers have access to a federal database that lets them determine which suspects are foreign born.

There's no way around it. If you're foreign born and arrested, you'll end up in one of two seats where you'll be questioned by a certified Metro Corrections Officer. It's part of the 287g program, a program working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

With just a click of a mouse, officers have access to a foreign born suspect's criminal past. They're looking for the most serious offenders.

"We've had everything from murder to property crimes and burglaries. Our misdemeanors, the majority are DUI or battery/domestic violence," said Metro Lt. Richard Forbus.

In the last two months, 321 inmates were placed on detainer, which means they are identified and could be handed over to ICE for possible deportation. But there were hundreds more that weren't.

ICE makes the final determination whether a foreign born suspect is deported. In the first month of 287g, 28 people were sent back to their home country.

"What a lot of people are overlooking is that over 500 people have come in that would have been eligible to be removed because they are here illegally, but we've passed on those people, meaning we haven't taken any action on those, based on their charges and their lack of history," said Lt. Forbus.

Metro says they're not acting as immigration officers. They call it a success, but immigrant advocates like Angela Morrison say it's still too early to make a determination. She's already heard a few complaints, "I've heard anecdotal stories from Latinos in the community that feel like they are being stopped because of their race."

And she says Metro could lose the public's trust, "It could perhaps discourage immigrant victims of crime from reporting crimes and it would further marginalize them and victimize them."

But Metro say it's working, removing dangerous, illegal immigrants not only from the community, but from the country.