Thread: TN 287(g): Screening all arrested immigrants pays off

By SHERIFF DARON HALL • September 14, 2008

When an opinion column ran Feb. 2, 2007, in The Tennessean with the headline, "Here is a tool to help the sheriff keep the community safer," it could not have been more right. There is no doubt that our city is safer since the Davidson County Sheriff's Office implemented the 287(g) program.

In the first 16 months of operation, 4,000 illegal immigrants (who committed crimes, were arrested and brought to jail) have been placed in removal proceedings. Of those, more than half had previous arrests.
Advertisement

During summer 2006, Nashville residents became frustrated after hearing of more than half a dozen homicides committed by illegal immigrants — many of whom had previous arrests on misdemeanor charges, but had been released from jail. Critics of the 287(g) program argue we should ignore the immigration status of arrestees until they commit a serious crime. I believe that is too late.

We regularly see evidence that screening all foreign-born arrestees pays off. Just last week, Juan Carlos Garcia was arrested for a misdemeanor crime. He was first arrested in Nashville for a misdemeanor and released before the implementation of 287(g). Between last week's arrest and his first arrest, Garcia was charged and convicted of felony sexual assault of a child in Houston, Texas. Upon returning to Nashville, he was required to register as a sex offender — which he did not do. This is just one example of a low-level offender that is removed from the streets of Nashville because we screen all foreign-born arrestees. Would you have wanted him released? Without 287(g), he would have been.
Killers now in prison

Five illegal immigrants who were charged with homicide in summer 2006 are now incarcerated in Tennessee state prisons. They are serving a total of three life sentences plus 92 years at taxpayers' expense. Two years later, one is still awaiting trial in a Davidson County jail. If we had removed these individuals from our community upon their first misdemeanor arrest, both lives and money would have been spared.

Another key to our success and a move that has made our program unique is the Immigration Advisory Council. In hopes of transparency, we became the first and only law enforcement agency in the United States to form such a council before program approval. I never expected members to agree and actually appreciate the challenges. However, just as the council's purpose statement indicates, I do expect members to "carry factual information to the immigrant community and community at large." The dialogue with this group, although sometimes contentious, will go forward, and I am confident the result will be improved policies and procedures.

As we move ahead, I believe the 287(g) program's success will continue. Since its implementation, the percentage of people arrested in Nashville who are here illegally has decreased by 36 percent, and we have yet to see another high-profile crime committed by a previously arrested and released criminal alien. For a safer Nashville, it is my hope these trends continue.

Daron Hall is sheriff of Davidson County.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 40369/1008

added to the homepage

http://www.alipac.us/article3541.html


Great article find!

W

Such an important message that it needs to be shouted from the rooftops of America:

Five illegal immigrants who were charged with homicide in summer 2006 are now incarcerated in Tennessee state prisons. They are serving a total of three life sentences plus 92 years at taxpayers' expense. Two years later, one is still awaiting trial in a Davidson County jail. If we had removed these individuals from our community upon their first misdemeanor arrest, both lives and money would have been spared.

If we had removed these individuals from our community upon their first misdemeanor arrest, both lives and money would have been spared.

Absolutely! Why 287(g) isn't on the books of all counties and municipalities is beyond me. It is a most sensible supplement to federal immigration law and a solid crime deterrent.

ENFORCE OUR LAWS....THEY WORK!!!!!!!!!

Our immigration system is NOT BROKEN... it is IGNORED!!!!!