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Top Stories: Tarrant Sheriff Wants Deputies Trained To ID Undocumented Immigrants In Jail

Paul Moseley
/
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
A Tarrant County detention officer logs inmates into the jail in the “back door” section of the jail, the first step of processing.";s:

The top local stories this morning from KERA News: As the debate over punishing so-called sanctuary cities moves to the full State Senate this week, the Tarrant County sheriff wants his deputies trained to identify undocumented immigrants.

Bill Waybourn told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he would need a memo of understanding between the Sheriff’s Department and ICE in order to get 12 of his detention officers trained.

They would then only look for undocumented immigrants among people in the jail. Deputies would not question people on the street about immigration status, and the program does not apply to crime victims.

Waybourn said he has the authority to enter into an agreement with ICE, but he’s willing to discuss the matter with commissioners or anyone in the community who has concerns.

Other stories this morning:

  • New I-35 Express lanes have opened to relieve congestion between the Sam Rayburn Tollway and the George Bush Turnpike.
  • This edition of Vital Signs explores why minimally invasive heart procedures may be better for some patients rather than open heart surgery.

You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM. 

Former KERA staffer Krystina Martinez was an assistant producer. She produced local content for Morning Edition and KERANews.org. She also produced The Friday Conversation, a weekly series of conversations with North Texas newsmakers. Krystina was also the backup newscaster for the Texas Standard.