Immigrant group sues sheriff's office
Originally published November 26, 2008


By Ashley Andyshak
News-Post Staff



SILVER SPRING -- The state's largest immigrants' rights group has filed suit against the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, alleging the office will not release statistics on its participation in a controversial immigration law enforcement program.
CASA de Maryland filed suit Tuesday in Montgomery County Circuit Court, requesting the immediate release of information regarding the county's relationship with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which oversees the 287(g) program.

Under the program, 26 county deputies have been trained to enforce federal immigration laws. CASA has expressed concern that the program would lead to racial profiling, and said Sheriff Chuck Jenkins' reluctance to release conviction statistics only adds to this belief.

"Officials from the sheriff's office have had numerous opportunities to dispel concerns that they are using this program to violate the constitutional rights of Frederick residents," said Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland. "The fact that they have chosen not to do so strongly suggests that the requested information would only confirm our suspicions."

In a statement CASA issued Tuesday, citing county statistics, officials said more than 98 percent of those charged with immigration law violations in Frederick County are from Latin American countries. A majority of these were initially charged with driving without a license, not criminally violent offenses, CASA said. Fifteen have been charged with felonies.

The sheriff's office could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

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