Gwinnett to screen inmates for immigration violations

LAWRENCEVILLE - Gwinnett County authorities say they will begin screening inmates in the county jail for immigration violations under a program already in place in Hall County.

The $5 million program approved by the county commission last week trains deputies to use U.S. Department of Homeland Security databases to look up inmate records. Deputies also will be trained to begin the deportation process for those in the country illegally.

The new program could begin as early as October. The plan is part of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement program to equip local authorities across the country with the ability to find illegal immigrants in their detention facilities.