CA: Civil rights groups vow to continue fight to ban immigra
Civil rights groups vow to continue fight to ban immigrant screening program for inmates
Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/07/2009 06:09:49 AM PST
Civil rights organizations have acknowledged they face an uphill battle trying to stop an illegal immigrant screening program for jail inmates, following the county's renewed partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
But they vowed to continue their fight against the 287 (g) program, and also planned to start educating neighborhoods and groups about the effects it could have on people not behind bars.
"Even though it's limited to detention facilities, there is a rippling effect in community," said Belinda Escobosa Helzer, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union in Orange County. "They tend to identify police officers as immigration officers. It disrupts the community trust which is needed for police officers to do their job on the street."
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors extended its partnership with ICE last Tuesday, allowing sheriff's custody specialists to screen inmates and place federal holds on them if they are suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Third District Supervisor Neil Derry said the program is designed to target criminals who happen to be illegal immigrants. He called the county's need for the program "a matter of public safety."
The ACLU submitted a letter to the president in August, demanding the program be terminated, citing racial profiling and civil rights abuses by law enforcement.
The letter was signed by more than 500 organizations, including ACORN, the California
Joanne Lin, an ACLU attorney in Washington, D.C., said abuses by law enforcement have been occurring across the country.
"We contend it has been abused in such a manner that we have deputies or state troopers setting up outside churches and parishes frequented by Latinos, or trailer parks and flea markets where there are large numbers of Latinos," she said.
If the Department of Homeland Security does not terminate the program, Lin said the ACLU plans to push for a temporary suspension so it can be examined further.
Sheriff's officials said they don't book people in jail for traffic infractions and some misdemeanor offenses, so the fears of using the 287 (g) to capture illegal immigrants at checkpoints or traffic stops in San Bernardino County are unfounded.
"We don't allow people to be booked for not having a license or a traffic infraction," said sheriff's Lt. Rick Ells.
Civil rights groups have held workshops locally, including at the Diocese of San Bernardino, to help immigrant communities understand the program.
Bobbi Jo Chavarria, member of the group ACORN, said community outreach is also on the horizon for the Fontana branch of their organization. They're meeting Monday to discuss options on how to make the public aware of 287 (g).
"We're talking about what the next step is," she said.
Officials with the Diocese of San Bernardino said they hope to work with the Sheriff's Department and the county to help the public understand how the program is being enforced.
"We feel like this agreement creates a climate of fear and distrust among documented and undocumented people towards the police," said John Andrews, spokesman for the diocese.
Groups supporting the program say they're not surprised to see opposition in the county. Ray Herrera, president and founder of We The People, a Claremont-based political activist organization, said he plans to thank the county's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for renewing the program.
"The only people complaining are the criminals and the criminal sympathizers," he said.
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_13737077
Re: CA: Civil rights groups vow to continue fight to ban imm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jean
"They tend to identify police officers as immigration officers. It disrupts the community trust which is needed for police officers to do their job on the street."
What garbage. Rich activists, like the millionaire Geraldo Rivera, have managed to divide this country into two groups: child-like Latinos who want to be well compensated for their "victim" status and the American citizen who is being made into a sucker to pay for it all.
