SAN BERNARDINO  -  The Sheriff's Department is expanding efforts to identify and deport illegal immigrants in San Bernardino County jails.

Inmates screened by the West Valley Detention Center in 2006 and 2007 determined more than 4,100 inmates were eligible for deportation. The Rancho Cucamonga jail was the only county jailhouse equipped for such screening.

Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt has now allocated $100,000 for video conferencing technology that will allow West Valley jailers to interview inmates at other jails.

The immigrant screening program will now expand to jails in San Bernardino, Barstow, Victorville and the Morongo Basin.

(AP)