OC (CA) Register: Sheriff's plan takes aim at hot voter issue (immigration

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Sheriff's plan takes aim at hot voter issue

Giving authority to act on immigration to some deputies may split rivals in next year's race.

By MARTIN WISCKOL
The Orange County Register

Sheriff Mike Carona's plan for some deputies to have immigration-enforcement authority is expected to attract national attention, as part of it is unprecedented for local law enforcement.

But the plan is already kicking up plenty of dust locally, including mixed reviews from the three law-enforcement veterans challenging Carona's re-election bid next year.

"I think Carona's (plan) is nothing more than an election-year ploy," said sheriff's Lt. Bill Hunt, one of the challengers. "He sees this is a hot-button issue with his Republican base. ... But I don't think it addresses the issue." Illegal immigration was a primary focus of this month's special congressional election and could play a key role in next year's sheriff's race. Carona's plan is designed to steer clear of illegal immigrants who are otherwise law abiding, but it has been attacked nonetheless by some who say it will alienate Latinos.

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Currently, immigration officials visit the jail and do checks on anyone for whom deputies have not been able to determine legal residency. More controversial is a proposal to give immigration authority to many felony investigators. This plan, which Carona spokesman Jon Fleischman said would be a nationwide first for local law enforcement, would allow detectives to see if a suspect has been previously deported. If so, investigators would then be able to book the suspect for a felony immigration violation even with inadequate evidence to arrest that person for the primary felony being investigation.

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http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_916079.php