Cape May County warden Donald Lombardo holds a plaque the county sheriff’s office recently received from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Sheriff's Office recently received an award for its dedication and contribution to public safety and immigration and customs enforcement.

Warden Donald Lombardo and Cpl. Robert Keefe accepted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Award at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Awards and Training in Mercer County in late January.

County Sheriff Gary Schaffer and Lombardo presented the award to the Board of Freeholders during a meeting Feb. 14.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the largest investigative agency in the Department of Homeland Security.

The agent assigned to Cape May County is headquartered in the Marlton field office and usually responds to the Cape May County jail at least once a week, according to a press release. He focuses his enforcement on convicted criminal aliens.

“Due to the demographics of Cape May County and the job market in the summer; ICE is very active in our facility during the summer months,” Schaffer said. “Since 2008, ICE has removed 143 inmates from our facility that we identified and were subsequently detained by ICE. In addition, during that time period 50 additional inmates were removed by ICE from other facilities on our identification; due to the fact they had pending charges in other jurisdictions after our charges were reconciled.”

In December, 2010, the Cape May County jail was one of two jails in New Jersey to participate in the Criminal Alien Program search. The mandated program screens the facility for people of interest.