Liberals Push Obama to End Immigration Checks

Thursday, August 27, 2009 1:55 PM

LOS ANGELES -- Immigrant and civil rights advocates are asking the Obama administration to put an end to a federal program that lets local police and sheriff's departments enforce the country's immigration laws.

More than 500 organizations signed a letter urging Obama to end the program, which they claim has exacerbated racial profiling.

The program has been criticized by the Government Accountability Office and led to a Justice Department Investigation of the Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriff's office.

The government last month announced plans to revamp the program.

Chris Newman, legal programs director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said the letter was mailed Wednesday.

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