Gwinnett makes push for inmate deportations

LAWRENCEVILLE - There are hundreds of illegal immigrants in the Gwinnett County jail, and starting next month the county will begin the push to have them deported.

Published reports say that starting Jan. 12, county law enforcement along with federal immigration agents will begin canvassing the county jail. Their goal: to identify the illegal inmates and get them out of the country.

So far in 2008, over 14,000 foreign nationals have been booked at the Gwinnett County jail, but it is unknown how many were illegal. Gwinnett projects it may deport between 4,000 and 6,000 illegal inmates.

Hall County already participates in the inmate ID program, known as 287(g).