Thread: Mesa makes do without federal immigration funds

June 19, 2008 - 2:24PM
Mesa makes do without federal immigration funds
Sonu Munshi, Tribune
Mesa is nowhere close to getting federal money to train detention officers to identify the immigration status of inmates booked into the city jail.

Instead, at least for now, Mayor Scott Smith said an arrangement has been made with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for a stopgap program that will essentially accomplish the same thing. Mesa officials have to iron out the details with local ICE authorities, City spokesman Steve Wright said.

The previous City Council, which left office earlier this month, and police chief George Gascón had taken the lead on soliciting training for the officers.

The Mesa Police Department has sought what's called 287(g) training for 10 detention officers, which would train them to assess the immigration status of those in Mesa police custody.

Smith told council members at a meeting Thursday that top officials with the federal Department of Homeland Security said the agency, which includes ICE, is dealing with a heavy backlog of similar requests. Mesa is about 70th on the waiting list for training.

So without that option for now, Smith and City Manager Chris Brady, who met ICE officials in Washington D.C. this week, worked out an alternative arrangement under which Mesa police can request ICE to become more involved in running checks, if needed.

"It's a temporary program,â€

I'm not sure what the new agreement is? Wasn't clear to me.