Originally published Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 5:59 PM

Feds create hotline for detained immigrants

Federal immigration officials Thursday announced creation of a telephone hotline to ensure that detainees held by local police are informed of their rights.

By Los Angeles Times

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15 trillion and debt ,, and now a federally funded "hotline " to inform ... (December 30, 2011, by johnwalter330) Read more

How can a non citizen criminal have rights? Ask any of the US citizens being... (December 30, 2011, by Bellevue Pete) Read more

Isn't this nice.......we gotta pony up money so the American govt. does not look bad an... (December 30, 2011, by bolo821) Read more

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LOS ANGELES — Federal immigration officials Thursday announced creation of a telephone hotline to ensure that detainees held by local police are informed of their rights.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency said the toll-free number, 855-448-6903, will field queries from detainees held by state or local law-enforcement agencies "if they believe they may be U.S. citizens or victims of a crime," according to an ICE statement.

The hotline will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by ICE personnel, with translation services available in several languages.

Scores of local law-enforcement agencies partner with the federal government under the controversial 287 (g) program, established in 1996, which deputizes police to turn over suspects or criminals to immigration authorities for possible deportation. Normally police do not enforce federal law.