As federal presence at county jail grows, so do numbers of immigrant detainees
AUSTIN, Texas: "For the past 30 years, federal immigration agents have regularly popped in the Travis County Jail and other correctional institutions, combing records and quizzing inmates to identify deportable immigrants and those with criminal records.
But sometime in the future — apparently for the first time ever, and with the blessing of Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton — the periodic visits will grow into a permanent presence, as federal agents work around-the-clock in a roughly 8-foot by 10-foot office in the downtown jail.
There, they can question people brought in on any charges — from traffic offenses to murder — about their immigration status. If agents believe someone is in the United States illegally, they can place a "hold" to detain the inmate for possible deportation after the original charges are adjudicated."