Immigration advocates call for delay of program 287(g) gives local officers federal immigration powers

APP.com
By KIM PREDHAM
October 8, 2009

FREEHOLD — Immigration advocates gathered Thursday to call for the delay of the controversial 287(g) program in Monmouth County and Morristown, and to discuss an upcoming national immigration reform gathering.

"Before a penny of taxpayers' dollars is wasted, before we continue with this failed policy, the secretary can stop it," said New Jersey Immigration Policy Network executive director Charles "Shai" Goldstein, referring to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

A handful of advocates held a brief news conference Thursday on the steps of the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, which was accepted into the 287(g) program in July. The approval allows the sheriff's office to have officers stationed at the county jail deputized as immigration agents.

The meeting was a small one — besides the advocates, the only other attendees were two reporters, a photographer and Freehold Police Chief Mitch Roth.

Despite the location, Goldstein stressed the meeting was intended to send a message to federal, rather than local, authorities.

Goldstein released a letter Thursday that he said he recently sent to Napolitano expressing concern over the 287(g) program, which gives local law enforcement officers federal immigration powers.

The program, he said, may directly interfere with a directive issued by state Attorney General Anne Milgram regarding when local police should ask about immigration status. Further, Goldstein's organization has "serious concerns" about the powers sought by Morristown, which include authorization to engage in raids, according to Goldstein.

Monmouth County's application, he wrote, is at best "a mere duplication of the process that is already in place in every jurisdiction in New Jersey."

Given these concerns, Goldstein called on Napolitano to postpone implementation of any new 287(g) programs until at least July.

A spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Richard Rocha, would not discuss specific agreements but noted the 287(g) program is a voluntary one.

"ICE wants to support local efforts to protect public safety by giving law enforcement the tools to identify and remove dangerous criminal aliens," Rocha said in an e-mailed statement.

Advocates Thursday also discussed plans to attend a rally in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, October 13th.

About 400 people from New Jersey are expected to attend the event, which will include meetings with lawmakers and a procession to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, organizers said.

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