Audio
Transcript ( from Rev.com)
Fox5 reporter Randy Travis (00:00):
Change involved checking the immigration status of every prisoner who comes into this jail. For more than a decade, that’s been the mission of deputies, resulting in illegal immigrants being deported, even when the crime that brought them here was something minor, like say I bust a tail light or no driver’s license.
Fox5 reporter Randy Travis (00:17):
But starting January 1st the jail will no longer be responsible for the deciding whether an inmate is in this country illegally.
Gwinnett Sheriff-elect Keybo Taylor (00:24):
We will not be participating with, uh, ICE or any other agencies in regards to immigration issues.
Fox5 reporter Randy Travis (00:31):
Taylor says he’s not convinced being part of the 287 (g) program, having deputies contact federal authorities when they come across the illegal immigrants, is an effective use of resources. He wants to focus those deputies instead on reducing gang violence and let the arresting agency decide whether to alert immigration for future prisoners.
Randy Travis (00:52):
If they’re here illegally and they’ve committed a violent crime isn’t that saver to call immigration if the arresting agency did not?
Gwinnett Sheriff-elect Keybo Taylor (00:59):
Well, yes and no. Okay? It would be, but, again like I said, that is a born that agency to do that. All right, I’m not going to get involved and use my resources to what immigration issues.
D.A. King (01:10):
That’s an extraordinarly bad idea.
Fox5 reporter Randy Travis (01:14):
DA King has lobbied for stricter immigration laws and encouraged Sheriff to join the 287 (g) program. Instead, we’re the first county in Georgia to sign up, who soon drop out.
Randy Travis (01:25):
He thinks that his resources could be better used somewhere else.
D.A. King (01:28):
I would disagree with the Sheriff-elect and I can tell y… I- I- I- I’ll- make this very, very sad prediction: there are going to be people killed in Gwinnett County by people in the country illegally who were passed over by the enforcement efforts or lack thereof by this incoming sheriff [inaudible 00:01:45].
Fox5 reporter Randy Travis (01:46):
Taylor replaces Butch Conway who built a reputation as a no-nonsense lawman, though on illegal immigration.
Randy Travis (01:52):
What do you have to say to the people who loved him for all the years he has been an office and are worried that you’re not going to be as tough on crime as he was?
Gwinnett Sheriff-elect Keybo Taylor (02:00):
I’d say that we can do this in a different way. I can be just as though on crime and I feel like we could get just as much done, but we can do it with a different approach.
Fox5 reporter Randy Travis (02:10):
Come 2021, we will see. [Inaudible 00:02:13] Randy Travis, Fox 5 news.
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