Thread: NJ-Morristown police union to study 287(g)

Morristown police union to study 287(g) immigration enforcement program
By TEHANI SCHNEIDER
September 14, 2009

MORRISTOWN — The town's police union has formed a committee to explore the ramifications of deputizing its police officers to enforce federal immigration laws, a move that has delayed Mayor Donald Cresitello's plan to implement the program known as 287(g).


In a statement issued Monday to the press, Police Benevolent Association Local 43 officials noted the union recently received the first official document from the town regarding the implementation of 287(g).

"This correspondence marks the first occasion in which the Town Administration has had any contact with the union in reference to this program," the statement said.

"In response, PBA Local 43 has formed a committee to examine and research all aspects of this program in order to make an informed decision and to determine if participation in this program is in the best interests of our members and the community as a whole."

Under 287(g), Morristown officers would train to become immigration agents -- allowing them to enforce federal immigration laws and begin deportation proceedings.

The Morristown police department, which was approved for the program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in July, would join the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, and the Hudson County jail as the only state representatives in the program run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But the town must sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Homeland Security before officers can undergo a four-week training program by federal officials.

It was unclear how long the police union's committee plans to analyze 287(g). Neither PBA President Daniel Widdis nor the union's attorney, Paul Kleinbaum, returned calls seeking comment Monday afternoon.

Cresitello, who has four months left in office, said Monday that the PBA's planned review of 287(g) is one reason for his setback in signing the agreement.

"We're hoping that they would agree, but don't need their approval," he said. "Hopefully, they'll come to the same conclusion that I did -- that this is best for the residents of Morristown, considering the past activities, the past crimes that would not have been committed had we had this policy in place several years ago. There are individuals who have been in custody who are in this country illegally that were released and went on to commit serious crimes."

But PBA support is essential before the agreement can be signed because the officers must commit to two years under 287(g), said Matt Chandler, a Homeland Security spokesman.

If the police union does agree to support Morristown's implementation of 287(g), Cresitello hopes the town can begin deputizing a small number of its 58 officers before the end of the year.

"We would send two officers initially and see what the benefits of the training would be, and report back to (Morristown Police Chief Peter Demnitz), and let those guys make the final determination if we want to commit more people to training," he said."

ICE overhauled 287(g), which began in January 2006, following reports that local agencies used the program to target illegal immigrants for relatively minor offenses, as opposed to serious crimes.

Since the inception of 287(g), more than 70,000 individuals who are suspected of being in the United States illegally have been identified and more than 840 officers nationwide have been trained, according to ICE.

Tehani Schneider: tschneider@gannett.com



http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/2009 ... tudy+287(g)+immigration+enforcement+program

How did a union get in the middle of this? And what is wrong with with NJ?

And the Unions in New Jersey are Corrupt and in Cahoots to postpone 287G...I think we need an investigation between the Union leaders who recommend this and the Politicians and Illegal Alien supporters...

We need to end this insane corruption in New Jersey