Tipp. Co. to hire immigration coordinator

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Tippecanoe County Public Defenders Office will soon be expanding. 

The County Council voted to allow the office to hire an immigration resource coordinator. 

This position will advise non-citizens who commit crimes about their risk of deportation when they plead guilty or are found guilty after trial. 

In 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court decided defense attorneys must inform non-citizens of these risks. The new coordinator will also be in contact with an immigration consultant to stay up-to-date with changing immigration laws.

"The individuals in our office will do a lot of the legwork to help eliminate some of the cost of the expert we have to use to avoid additional cost to the county," said Tippecanoe County Chief Public Defender Amy Hutchinson.

"We have a lot more of the minority groups, many of whom can't speak English. We are required by the state and federal government to provide them adequate representation," said County Council member Jeff Kemper.

The salary of the new position will be about $50,000.