INS Urged to Continue Screenings at Jail

Orange County congressional members announced Friday they are asking the Immigration and Naturalization Service to continue indefinitely a program at Anaheim jail that screens prisoners for citizenship.

The pilot program, designed to identify illegal immigrants suspected of crimes before they appear in court, could end June 30.

In a letter Friday, the congressional members urged INS Commissioner Doris Meissner to extend the pilot program.

“In light of the fact that the Anaheim program is the only one of its kind in a city jail, and the only means of obtaining data from which Congress can evaluate the merits of this program, we strongly urge you to continue the program,” according to the letter, initiated by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach).

Cox is also a co-author of a pending bill that would expand the program nationwide and ensure continuation of the Anaheim program.

The program was slated to end in April, but Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), whose district includes Anaheim, asked the INS for an extension that would allow the General Accounting Office to study the program.

In May, GAO officials said they’d have to put the study on hold because of funding problems.

Meanwhile, Anaheim officials have been lobbying local congressional members for their support to save the program.

“It makes nothing but sense to continue the program,” Councilman Tom Tait said. “The six-month pilot program has resulted in 650 illegal immigrant criminals being removed from the streets of Anaheim. The program focuses on the criminal element in our city and that’s where the INS should also focus its resources.”

Sanchez, in a statement, said she supports the program and “any effort to catch and deport criminal aliens.”

She added she favors making the Anaheim program permanent as long as Congress finds the funding to support the effort.