A legislative committee looked into the 287(g) program Tuesday.

Sheriff's offices in Alamance, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties are currently using the federal program to train deputies in immigration enforcement. Cabarrus County will soon start as well.

Under the program, deputies screen inmates who have been charged with felonies or drunk driving to see if they are legally in the United States. If they're not, deputies can refer them to the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Last year, the legislature appropriated $750,000 to the N.C. Sheriff's Association to assist with training.

State Sen. Ed Jones said he is concerned about the risk of ethnic profiling.

"What does an illegal alien look like or sound like is what my problem is," he said. "I don't know if there's a simple way out of this or not." (Burlington Times-News)