Thread: TX: Screening for jailed immigrants criticized

Screening for jailed immigrants criticized
Study cites lack of oversight, poor training in federal program
By PEGGY O'HARE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
April 2, 2010, 9:54PM

A federal program to screen for illegal immigrants in local jails lacks oversight and is not targeting the most serious offenders, according to a highly critical U.S. Department of Homeland Security report issued on Friday.

The program commonly known as 287(g) has been in use at the Harris County Jail since August 2008. The city of Houston was negotiating last year to start the program in its jails.

The report by the DHS Inspector General's Office also concluded that 287(g) does not adequately collect data to address civil rights violations and was inconsistently enforced in various jurisdictions. The investigation found that some law enforcement agencies are not following the program's requirements, including identifying and removing illegal immigrants “who pose a threat to public safety or a danger to the community.â€

[quote]For instance, investigators obtained arrest information for a sample of 280 illegal immigrants identified through the program at four sites they visited. Based on the arresting offense, only 26 of the people arrested — about 9 percent — were considered among the highest risk because they were accused of the most serious crimes — major drug offenses or violent offenses.

“These results do not show that 287(g) resources have been focused on aliens who pose the greatest risk to the public,â€

CA. and AZ. versions of this article at

Feds fail to control local cops with immigration power

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-193748.html