Immigrant Detention Center Proposed in Va.
Facility Would House Illegal Residents Arrested for Crimes Until Deportation
By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 26, 2007; B01
RICHMOND, Sept. 25 -- Virginia officials said Tuesday that they are considering a proposal to build a 1,000-bed detention center where illegal immigrants arrested for certain crimes could be held until federal officials deport them.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said Tuesday night that such a center would be the country's first state-run facility built to hold only illegal immigrants accused of crimes. Currently, illegal immigrants who are arrested are held in local jails, federal facilities and private prisons.
Under the proposal, announced at a meeting of the State Crime Commission, Virginia would finance construction of the center through bond sales and use it to detain illegal immigrants charged with crimes that usually do not trigger long prison terms.
State officials are not sure where the center would be located, how much it would cost or how long it would take to build.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/25/AR2007092502190_pf.html