What did the INS know about a Gainesville child molester?

ATLANTA - Published reports say the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was told repeatedly that three convicted child molesters - including one from Gainesville - were being held in Georgia prisons, yet did not deport them upon their release. <br> <br> State records show the three were set free in Georiga after serving their sentences, even though federal law requires the INS. to keep up with and deport dangerous felons who are not U.S. citizens. <br> <br> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported a week ago that the INS said state officials never gave them enough information to keep track of the inmates. But, the paper reported yesterday that the INS was notified about all three men - including Lazaro de la Cruz of Gainesville - over a period of years. <br> <br> An INS spokeswoman says the agency is still reviewing what went wrong.<br> <br> According to the AJC, the INS filed a &#34;hold&#34;on de la Cruz while he was in the Hall County Detention Center for molesting a 3-year-old girl. A Superior Court judge wrote into de la Cruz&#39;s sentencing report that after he served five years, an additional five years of probation could be suspened when he was deported. But, for unknown reasons, he was set free, as were the other two, after serving his time.<br> <br> The paper quotes Hall County District Attorney Jason Deal as saying his office works with local INS agents, but, immigration enforcement &#34;is a federal authority.&#34;<br> <br> <br>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/12/186328