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Dozens protest 'scheme' immigration partnership with local sheriffs

Dozens protested outside the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Friday, calling on local sheriff's agencies to end their partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) to keep undocumented suspects behind bars through immigration holds.

TAMPA, Fla. - They called it a "scheme" to separate families.

Dozens protested outside the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Friday, calling on local sheriff's agencies to end their partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) to keep undocumented suspects behind bars through immigration holds.

Sheriffs from 17 agencies across Florida, including Hillsborough and Pinellas, announced in January that they will hold illegal immigrants in jail longer so I.C.E. agents can pick them up.

Prior to the agreement, jails could only hold undocumented subjects for up to 48 hours after they resolved their local charges or posted bond. Now those suspects become "federal detainees" and can be held longer.

Local jails would be reimbursed up to $50 for each detention.

“We are willing to pay for every person you detain, you don't have to have I.C.E. do that,” Pamela Gomez with the Florida Immigration Coalition said during the protest.

A different take

Norma Reno came from Venezuela to the U.S. legally.

It took her 12 years to become an American citizen.

“It was hard because this is a country where everyone wants to live but I respected the law and I did step-by-step what I was supposed to,” she said. “Now, I'm an advocate for people doing what is right. For people following the law and for people respecting our institutions.”

Reno, a member of the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office's Hispanic Advisory Council, added that law enforcement is only here to protect.

“To go and protest in corners and expect the government to solve everything for you, when you know you have committed a crime?,” she said.

Interested in sharing your thoughts on this issue? Email Shannon Valladolid at shannonv@wtsp.com.

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