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About 7.5 percent of those arrested and processed at the Frederick County Detention Center are in the country illegally, according to statistics the Frederick County Sheriff's Office released last week.

Deputies have been checking the immigration status of every person arrested in Frederick County since April 2008, as part of the federal 287g program.

Of the 7,005 people arrested and taken to the Frederick County Detention Center since April 2008, 524 were found to be illegal immigrants, said Capt. Tim Clarke of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

On Oct. 29, officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Baltimore came to Frederick County to congratulate Sheriff Chuck Jenkins (R) on the arrest and deportation of 500 illegal immigrants since the program began.

In an interview Monday, Clarke updated the number to 524, and downplayed the arrests, saying this was not a goal police were trying to meet.

"It's just a milestone, nothing special," said Clarke, who oversees the department's participation in the 287g program.

If an arrestee is found to be in the country illegally, he or she is "processed." This means the sheriff's office notifies ICE, which can begin the deportation proceedings, Clarke said.

The main critic of the 287g program, Casa of Maryland, charges that Frederick County deputies target immigrants and use racial profiling to accuse Hispanics of minor violations that lead to deportation.

"We don't think this is anything to celebrate," said Kerry O'Brien, Casa's director of services.

The organization's analysis shows individuals who have been deported have been arrested for minor crimes and some of those crimes have been dismissed, O'Brien said.

On Oct. 29, ICE officials also brought with them a newly signed agreement with the Sheriff's Office that includes changes to the 287g program.

Under the new guidelines, ICE has developed three levels of priority for deporting illegal immigrants who commit certain crimes.

"Level 1" priority will go to those who have been arrested for or convicted of committing major drug offenses or violent crimes such as murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery or kidnapping.

"Level 2" priority will go to minor drug offenses and other crimes such as burglary, larceny, fraud and money laundering.

"Level 3" is all other offenses.

The guidelines are meant to address concerns that some police agencies participating in the program engage in racial profiling.

Jenkins repeatedly has denied racial profiling accusations and has said his deputies merely arrest people who commit crimes and are a threat to county residents.

Jenkins is proud of his deputies' efforts. "I am extremely grateful for the cooperation we have received from the Department of Homeland Security's Baltimore Field Office personnel," Jenkins said in a press release. "It has been an extremely smooth process and a very well received program within Frederick County that I believe is having a positive impact on our ability to fight and prevent crime. I expect a long and positive working relationship with our friends in Baltimore."

ICE is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

E-mail Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.