Thread: MD-Montgomery goes alone against immigration enforcement

Montgomery goes alone against immigration enforcement
By: Hayley Peterson

March 24, 2010


ANNAPOLIS - Montgomery County is the only jurisdiction in Maryland opposing legislation that would give state police the power to nab illegal immigrants.

"We have always opposed forcing local police to become enforcement agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement," Sheila Sprague, spokeswoman for the county's Office of Intergovernmental Relations, said in written testimony. "The immigration issue should be resolved at the federal level, not at the state or local level."

But elsewhere in Maryland, counties are establishing programs to detain illegal immigrants.

Prince George's County police conduct interviews upon detainment to determine immigration status, while Frederick County uses 287(g), a federal program that allows local police officers to arrest illegal immigrants.

Del. Patrick L. McDonough, R-Baltimore and Harford counties, wants to unify Maryland's efforts against illegal immigration with a bill mandating 287(g) across the state. The bill would require a select number of state police to undergo four weeks of training with ICE.

"You send a clear and powerful signal when you have 287(g) in your state," McDonough said.

He said Maryland -- and particularly Montgomery County -- would see an influx of illegals if Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell requires the Old Dominion to implement 287(g), as he promised in his gubernatorial campaign.

Del. Susan C. Lee, D-Bethesda, said she is concerned the Maryland bill would encourage racial profiling.

"How would an official be able to determine if someone has an immigration status without racial profiling?" she asked. She said the bill would create a dangerous rift -- and discourage communication -- between illegals and law enforcement.

"[Illegals] aren't just criminals, they are also victims," she said.

Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins said everyone who is detained gets the immigration status shakedown in his county.

"This is not profiling, this is not discriminatory," he said. "Very simply, it's keeping our streets safe from foreign-born criminals and terrorist threats. No one will slip through the cracks."

Maryland State Police said the program would be costly and force police to work overtime.

A fiscal analysis estimated the program would cost nearly $600,000 in the first year and about $150,000 annually after that.

hpeterson@washingtonexaminer.com


http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local ... 68757.html

I guess they are afraid of MS-13 as they are very prevalent up there. We all know many of their members are illegals of anchor babies.

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I live in Maryland. The problem in Montgomery County is that it is home to several "workers centers" for illegal aliens. (And by "workers centers", I mean TAXPAYER FUNDED day laborer sites for illegal aliens). Casa de Maryland is in complete control of Montgomery County. Their illegal alien population & their illegal alien crime rate are through the roof. But Montgomery County is known to fight for illegal aliens, and they will always continue to do so.

Here's what goes on in Montgomery County (and all throughout Maryland):

http://www.casademaryland.org/index.php ... &Itemid=78

MontCo jail chief says they don't track illegal immigrant inmates
By: Freeman Klopott
Examiner Staff Writer
March 28, 2010

Montgomery County denied a request from the Washington Examiner for statistics on local criminal charges for inmates held on illegal immigration warrants because the jail does not keep the information on electronic records, said county corrections director Arthur Wallenstein.

"We cannot deliver what you are seeking," Wallenstein said in an e-mail. "We have no computer that sorts by [ICE warrant] -- it is simply not relevant."

Said Jon Feere, a legal policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies: "Montgomery County's apparent lack of interest in tracking crime associated with illegal immigration is consistent with Chief [Thomas] Manger's dangerous sanctuary policy. Turning a blind eye on these problems does not benefit public safety."

Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that do not enforce federal immigration laws.

Wallenstein did not respond to requests for comment regarding Feere's statement.

-- Freeman Klopott

www.washingtonexaminer.com

Originally Posted by jean

MontCo jail chief says they don't track illegal immigrant inmates
By: Freeman Klopott
Examiner Staff Writer
March 28, 2010

Montgomery County denied a request from the Washington Examiner for statistics on local criminal charges for inmates held on illegal immigration warrants because the jail does not keep the information on electronic records, said county corrections director Arthur Wallenstein.

"We cannot deliver what you are seeking," Wallenstein said in an e-mail. "We have no computer that sorts by [ICE warrant] -- it is simply not relevant."

Said Jon Feere, a legal policy analyst for the Center for Immigration Studies: "Montgomery County's apparent lack of interest in tracking crime associated with illegal immigration is consistent with Chief [Thomas] Manger's dangerous sanctuary policy. Turning a blind eye on these problems does not benefit public safety."

Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that do not enforce federal immigration laws.

Wallenstein did not respond to requests for comment regarding Feere's statement.

-- Freeman Klopott

www.washingtonexaminer.com

I can't believe that they don't have the number of illegals in jail. That is included in the stats they keep. I think they just don't want to tell you. They used to show one months worth of bookings online in the local paper for the Broward County Jail and there was an immigration hold catagory.