9 Investigates the cost of detaining illegal immigrants in local jails

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The federal government is working on a plan to aggressively identify illegal immigrants for deportation. It's a proposal that relies heavily on local jails.

Channel 9 investigative reporter Daralene Jones learned two similar programs faced strong opposition.

Kevin Avila Rosales and Ancelmo Rivera are both in the country illegally and are charged with violent felonies.

They are both taking up space in the Brevard County Jail. Rivera has been in jail two years awaiting trial.

Federal immigration officials are looking at changes that could significantly increase the number of illegal immigrants in Central Florida’s local jails.

“We can only house so many inmates. Not to say we're overpopulated, but I can only imagine over a five year period, how many inmates that would be,” said Major James Dodson with the Brevard County Jail.

A policy change would allow immigration and customs to place detainers on every single person in jail who is charged with any crime and in the country illegally. The move would make it much more difficult to obtain a bond and be released.

“They’re going to have to hire a lot more ICE agents, lot more U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. They're going to have to hire more immigration judges,” said John Gihon, an immigration attorney who used to be a former senior attorney for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Currently every inmate booked into jail is fingerprinted. State and federal database checks help determine if the inmate is here illegally.

Violent offenders, considered a "priority" by ICE are flagged, and can only be held for ICE for 48 hours, if they post bond.

“Slipping through the cracks happens all the time,” Gihon said.

A spokesperson for ICE refused 9 Investigates' request for an on-camera interview. They did tell 9 Investigates that deportations have decreased over the last five years, down to about 240,000, and 58 percent of them were previously convicted of a crime.

The number is expected to increase significantly under President Trump’s administration.

“Everyone is going to be put through the process under President Trump. There are no free passes,” Gihon said.

It costs taxpayers about $20,000 - $30,000 a year to house an inmate, 9 Investigates learned.

“I would think it would be manpower extensive, depending on how many we're looking at,” Dodson said.

Cox Media Group