Gallegly wants crackdown on illegal immigrants in jail

Jamie Zuieback, director of the Office of Congressional Relations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Bart Rodriguez, acting assistant deputy director of ICE, recently met with U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Thousand Oaks) at his Washington, D.C., office to discuss the illegal immigration jail detention program at the Ventura County Main Jail.

Zuieback said they have increased ICE's presence at the local jail to five officers during weekdays, up from four. In addition, after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends, a duty officer is available at the local district ICE office to coordinate with jail officials in identifying and detaining illegal immigrants who are booked at the jail.

Of those booked and screened at the jail in July and August, 79 percent were found to be illegal immigrants.

"The jail program has proven to be a valuable tool to identify and remove criminal illegal immigrants," Gallegly said. "I appreciate director Zuieback's commitment to continue ICE's efforts to identify and deport criminal illegal immigrants, not only in Ventura County but across the country."