Federal immigration program placed under heavy scrutiny
By David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer 4/3/09

A program that allows state and local lawenforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws came under heavy scrutiny Thursday in a heated and often emotional House hearing.
The program, known as 287(g), is being used in communities throughout the country, including Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia, and Frederick County in Maryland. The program’s implementation in Prince William two years ago drew national attention.

“When the 287(g) program was started, it was supposed to be a way to get criminal aliens out of the jails and into the hands of federal authorities,â€