The county of Los Angeles has finally brought some common sense to the way it handles the problem of illegal immigrants in our jails. Last week, the Board of Supervisors approved a measure under which jail officials will work more closely with federal authorities to determine which inmates are illegal immigrants. That way, when the inmates' sentences are up, they can be deported back to their home country. Although some immigrant-rights groups have protested the measure -- and Supervisors Gloria Molina and Yvonne Brathwaite Burke voted against it -- this reform will benefit all residents of Los Angeles County, native and foreign-born alike. Getting convicted criminals out of the country only makes sense as a matter of public safety. Immigrants who come here illegally, then choose to live a life of crime, have no claim on remaining here. And given the limited resources of local law enforcement, it makes no sense to spend time and money arresting and re-trying these very same offenders when they strike again. Considering that it's members of immigrant communities who are most often the victims of such criminals, it would seem that immigrants more than anyone stand to gain from this new policy. And given that only convicted criminals would be affected, the claim that it will keep some immigrants from cooperating with law enforcement seems far-fetched at best.
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