Thread: NJ-287(g), No Sure Thing As Council Learns on Tuesday Night

287(g) is No Sure Thing As Council Learns on Tuesday Night
by By Jamie Duffy
Tuesday July 21, 2009, 11:38 PM


Local Latino activists came to Tuesday night's council meeting to protest activating 287(g), the federal program that allows local police officers to act as immigration officers. They may not have to worry. No federal government notification has arrived at town hall. From left to right: Esperanza Field, Uriel Mejia of Wind of the Spirit, Emiliano Lemos, Latino Leadership Alliance of NJ and David Caicedo, Morristown activist.
Word spread quickly earlier this month when Morristown appeared on a government website that announced that it and ten other American cities had been selected to participate in a federal program to deputize local police officers as immigration officials.

The program known as 287(g) has been an issue of contention ever since Morristown mayor Donald Cresitello, a Democrat, announced in Feb. 2007 that he intended to enroll his city.

But Tues. July 22 at a regular Morristown council meeting, Latino and local government officials were surprised to learn that no official notification that the city was selected for this program had been received.


Furthermore, even though the Council approved the measure two years ago, it appears that it must once again approve enrollment before police officers are ever sent for their two week training.

"We have no information on the application," said the town attorney, Jonathan Williams, "no directive on the actual terms of the agreement, no official communication with respect to our application."

Even the local ICE (Immigration and Customs Officer) "didn't know about it," said Williams who also divulged that enrollment must again be approved by the seven member council.

Discussion on 287(g) came after Esperanza Field, Morristown Latina and real estate agent, pleaded with the council to forgo enrollment in the program citing fear in the Latino community to report crimes and an economic downturn because Latino workers and customers would leave or avoid Morristown.

Her comments were supported by Emiliano Lemos, Morris County director of the New Brunswick-based Latino Leadership Alliance whose director, Martin Perez, recently sent a letter to the Obama administration asking it to halt the program in Morristown and Monmouth County.

After they and others asked about the program's status, Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman asked Williams: "Do we even know what we are signing on to?"

According to Morristown business administration Michael Rogers, Morristown appeared on the website for the Department of Homeland Security as one of 11 towns that had been selected out of many that applied for 287(g) status.

Morristown mayor Donald Cresitello who lost his primary bid for re-election in June was not present for the discussions. Some analysts indicated that the controversial program played a part in his loss to Democrat mayoral candidate Tim Dougherty.


http://www.nj.com/morristown/jamieduffy ... counc.html

After they and others asked about the program's status, Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman asked Williams: "Do we even know what we are signing on to?"

Well, Ms. Feldman, try reading for a change about 287(g), because someone, somewhere submitted this request. And if you somehow comprehend, try asking questions of the other people besides those against it, like the priceless Latinos.
And if there is no information on the application, according to the town attorney, why jump the gun?