By Chris Taylor
Paris, TN – A new Tennessee law requires jailers to check immigration status of all suspected illegal alien inmates. But a new federal process will soon likely overshadow the state's law. The Department of Homeland Security's Secure Communities fingerprint scanning system is set to expand next year to authorities across the state. Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew says the technology will one day likely nullify the new law.
"We are not necessarily against this law. We will be glad to comply with it. I don't think this is going to solve the immigration problem whatsoever in the state of Tennessee or anywhere else. This is just another small bandaid."
Belew says the solution lies at the federal level securing the nation's borders. Belew's department is developing a form to fax to US Immigrations and Customs officials in Memphis in compliance with the new law.