Tennessee Sheriff Jimmy Jones Says He’ll Stack Undocumented Immigrants ‘Like Cordwood’ In Knox County Jail

Knox County, Tennessee Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones wants his deputies to know how to enforce immigration laws if they suspect someone they arrest is in the United States illegally. When he found out earlier this week that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement wouldn't be able to accommodate his request to train them in the controversial 287(g) program because of budget concerns, the Tennessee sheriff issued a statement which made sure his displeasure came through loud and clear. If his office isn't equipped with training to carry out enforcement processes against people he suspects to be undocumented immigrants, he warned, he'll simply "stack these violators like cordwood" in his county jail.

"Once again," Jones wrote, "the federal government has used sequestration as a smokescreen to shirk its responsibilities for providing safety and security to its citizens by denying Knox County the 287(g) corrections model. An inept administration is clearing the way for law breaking illegal immigrants to continue to thrive in our community and ultimately be allowed to reside in the United States. Hopefully, the denial of this program will not create an influx of illegal immigrants who think that without this program they will be able to break the law and then be less likely to be deported.

"The vast majority of Knox County citizens feel just as I do when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration. I strongly support the 287(g) program and will continue to make every effort to pursue its implementation. I will continue to enforce these federal immigration violations with or without the help of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If need be, I will stack these violators like cordwood in the Knox County Jail until the appropriate federal agency responds."

The Huffington Post notes that proposed funding cuts to 287(g) were already under way when sequestration hit. ICE spokeswoman Gillian Christensen told the site that the agency is "limiting 287(g) participation to law enforcement agencies with existing" memorandums of understanding, and that it is still working with local officials through separate programs. According to a Department of Homeland Security document, the program's budget has been cut by $17 million for the 2013 fiscal year. The document also indicated that the DHS would not award new applications from agencies for the program, and said that its Secure Communities program - which allows immigration officials to track undocumented immigrants using fingerprints taken by local law enforcement - was more consistent and cost-effective than 287(g).

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