Fairfax County Sheriff Stan Barry said an application to enroll 12 deputies in a program that trains local officers to detain criminal illegal immigrants was rejected last month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Barry said he was told by federal officials that they were swamped with applications and couldn't approve new ones. However, an ICE spokesman has denied that claim.
The program is designed to help local agencies speed up the deportation process and prevent criminal illegal immigrants from being released. According to the Washington Examiner, the program has been touted by other northern Virginia counties, including Prince William County, as part of their crackdown on illegal immigration.
Immigration officials said they plan to install technology at the Fairfax jail that will check an inmate's legal status within federal databases.
