By Laura Crimaldi
The Boston Herald
SUFFOLK, Mass. — Suffolk Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral is walking away from nearly $54 million in federal immigration fees, saying her jail will no longer house illegal aliens due to the feds’ “staggering lack of communication and respect.”
In a blistering letter informing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the decision, a lawyer for Cabral blasted federal officials for forcing the jail to “beg and plead’’ for basic information.
“We have encountered a staggering lack of communication and respect from representatives of your agency,’' General Counsel James M. Davin wrote in an Aug. 13 letter. “This is completely unacceptable.’'
Among the sheriff’s gripes are ICE’s refusal to provide the jail with copies of audits conducted on their premises, to inform staff of complaints from immigration detainees and to boost the reimbursement rate for detention services.
Davin also rips ICE for not providing the jail with its report on the death of detainee Pedro Tavarez, even though local media obtained a copy of the investigation. Tavarez died in October at a local hospital. Davin called the oversight an example of ICE’s “baffling disregard’’ for Cabral.
ICE spokesman Harold Ort declined comment. The jail wants all immigration detainees relocated by Oct. 12.
Cabral’s office began housing immigration detainees in Building 8 on the grounds of the House of Correction in 2003. ICE pays $90 daily per immigrant for detention services.
Between January 2005 and May 2010, Cabral’s office collected $53.9 million in ICE detention fees, records show. In the current state budget, lawmakers authorized the jail to take in up to $8 million this year in detention fees. During the first five months of 2010, the average daily detainee population was 268 inmates, records show.
Attorney Robert S. Sinsheimer, who represents Tavarez’s daughter, Judith, ripped the flap between the feds and the sheriff.
“When government agencies are fighting with each other,’' he said, “you can be darn sure it’s about ducking and running for cover.’'
Copyright 2010 Boston Herald Inc.