LASD under fire for plan to let immigration agents in jails

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is coming under fire for its plan to enforce immigration at local jails.

On Tuesday, a protest was held outside the Board of Supervisors ahead of a meeting on the issue. Protestors are upset at the L.A. County sheriff's plan to allow ICE agents to have access to the jail and the databases so they can conduct investigations.

"We heard of cases where people's rights have been violated," said Marcela Hernandez, an activist. "They don't even know they're going to get interviewed. They don't even know their rights. They don't even have access to a lawyer, and they just get interviewed, and that could mean them being put in deportation proceedings or in detention for months."

Last week, Sheriff Jim McDonnell outlined his plan. ICE agents are allowed access just like any other law enforcement agency, and they can interview inmates who are highly likely to be in the U.S. illegally.

All of this comes after several high-profile cases, including the shooting death in San Francisco of Kate Steinle. She was allegedly shot by Francisco Sanchez, who had been deported to Mexico five times. Just before the shooting, he had been released by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, which refused to turn him over to ICE.

At Tuesday's meeting, there were also supporters of the sheriff's new policy.

"It's a problem that he has to submit a letter to the board demanding he's simply doing his job," said Arthur Schaper. "I don't think people here in L.A. County voted for him to pander and to compromise and to allow people to keep breaking the law."

"We don't want criminals out in the streets. We don't want murderers. We don't want rapists," said L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis. "We want to make sure those people are deported."

Solis had concerns at first about the plan, but she says after discussing it with the sheriff, it follows California law.

"We're really looking at more due process," said Solis. "In addition, the sheriff also will provide handout sheets with information about lawyers and where counsel can be provided for these individuals."