OZARK, Mo. -- While federal lawmakers continue to debate the problem of illegal immigration, the Christian County Sheriff’s Department says the problem is helping the department make ends meet.  The department has an interesting partnership with the federal government to fight illegal immigration.  County deputies help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detain illegal immigrants and, in turn, they're bringing in some big money for the county.

  When ICE agents raided the George's Processing plant near Butterfield in Barry County on May 22, they detained more than 100 undocumented workers.  Most of them ended up in the Christian County Jail.

  “We initially took around 75 to 80 (ICE) prisoners,” said Christian County Sheriff’s Capt. Jeremy Whitehill.

  Whitehill says the county provides its jail and transportation service to ICE.

  “It does take a little extra work but we're compensated for the work we do,” said Whitehill.

  So far this year, ICE has paid Christian County $210,000 to house illegal immigrants.   That extra money helps the sheriff’s department do things it can't afford with local taxes alone.

  “Last year, it was $600,000 from (ICE), which was put in the sheriff's operating budget and allowed us to do our daily budget; not just jail – administrative, investigative, patrol.  All of this is put into the fund that operates us,” said Whitehill.

  The captain says the number of illegal immigrants housed in the Christian County jail varies. It had about 25 who stayed long-term after the raid in Butterfield. On Monday, it was housing only seven but has space for up to 80.