Jail Overcrowded with Illegals

Sheriff says housing criminals is costing taxpayers

MERCEDES - Deputies arrested two illegals in connection with a Mercedes murder.

Jaime Ibarra and Juan Pineda are each being held on a million dollar bond. They're accused of killing Saul Garmendia. Sheriff Lupe Trevino says Pineda and the victim were fighting over a woman.

The two suspects are now in county jail. The sheriff says they're the latest example of rising crime rate involving illegals. And he says it's creating an overcrowding problem in his jail.

"I've got between 29 to 31 percent illegal immigrants in my county jail that we're holding on state charges," Trevino explains.

He's seen a jump of about 10 percent over the past two years. And he tells us it's costing taxpayers and the county money.

"It's costing you, the taxpayer, $45 a day per person to house illegal immigrants here in the county jail," the sheriff says.

Trevino adds he's not sure if the jump in crime is because the department is getting better at catching illegals committing crimes or more illegals are crossing our borders.

But he says, "It doesn't make a difference, because my jail is still overcrowded with illegal immigrants."

The sheriff says the cost of the illegals in the jail population costs between three and four million dollars a year.

NEWSCHANNEL 5 learned not much can be done, since the illegals committed the crimes in the Valley.

The sheriff also says in addition to the state prisoners housed in the county jail, the federal government keeps some of its illegals there.

The county does get a reimbursed from the federal government for that. But we're told it's not enough to cover the costs.