CLOSED JAIL MAY HOUSE ILLEGAL ALIENS : BLOCK EXPECTED TO PRESENT PLANS TODAY.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Illegal immigrants may be housed at the closed Mira Loma jail, under one of three options being studied by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Today, Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block is expected to unveil to county supervisors his recommendation for what to do with Mira Loma, closed since 1993, as well as other plans for the county jail system.

Federal marshals, state prison, and Immigration and Naturalization Service officials all have expressed an interest in housing prisoners at the closed Mira Loma jail.

``We've discussed several options with all three agencies,'' said Chief Mark Squires, head of the sheriff's Custody Division North. ``We're going to go with the one that works out the best for us.''

Sheriff's official believe the best contract may be with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which would house illegal immigrant suspects, Squires said.

``They toured the facility,'' Squires said. ``They would probably be best suited for us, and have quite a need also.''

Squires said he doubted the U.S. marshal's service would be recommended, because of the greater security and escape risk posed by its inmates, who generally have committed serious crimes and face long sentences.

``Typically these types of inmates don't care about additional consequences,'' Squires said.

While the California Department of Corrections was the first to begin negotiations with the county in the early part of this year, it's not necessarily the best option but it is being considered, Squires said.

``We spent a lot of time with the state,'' Squires said. ``We discussed the classification and type of inmate, medical, security and other provisions. But the escape risk is great and may not be the best choice.''

In March, state prison officials said they were hopeful of being able to house minimum-security state prison inmates at Mira Loma after a similar arrangement with San Bernardino County was killed by Sacramento lawmakers.

The state prison system is severely overcrowded, prison officials said.

In earlier talks, state officials were hoping to house 2,100 to 2,600 inmates at the facility, which would be run by the Sheriff's Department. The state is limited to paying a maximum of $59 a day per inmate, officials said.