Thread: Fund Shortage Hurts Immigration Training

Fund Shortage Hurts Immigration Training
October 8th, 2007 @ 9:46am
by Sandra Haros/KTAR

Efforts to get local law enforcement officers trained to identify and capture illegal immigrants has been stifled by a lack of funding, according to Vinny Picard of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Picard said the program, 287-G, has been very successful, but for the money angle.

"We have great relationships with Maricopa County, the Arizona Department of Corrections, the Department of Public Safety," Picard said. "It's popular and when something's popular, a lot of folks want to join in, as well. But we have to take a look at our resources and allocate them in a way that makes the most amount of sense."

Picard said any local or state law enforcement agency must get on a waiting list for training, and it's up to ICE's national headquarters to determine which training gets funded.

"We're really looking to work with communities around Arizona to find out what tools best meet their needs," Picard said. "Not one program's going to be the solution for eveyr community. So we want to work with communities to find out what will work best for them.

Meanwhile, Arizona businesses are taking steps to be ready when the employer sanctions law takes effect Jan. 1. The law requires employers to verify citizenship of workers and imposes penalties for those who hire illegal immigrants.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce has pledged to continue its education campaign to ensure all employers in the state are prepared. The chamber recently partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to offer a weekly live web seminar that demonstrates the program and allows individuals to ask questions directly of Homeland Security officers.

"Partnering with DHS to offer the E-Verify webinars has been an invaluable service to our members and to the entire business community, " said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona chamber. "The seminars are quick, easy and a great way for employers to make sure they are not caught unaware."

The web seminars are conducted every Thursday at 11 a.m., and will continue as long as there is a demand. So far, more than 600 employers have particiapted. Since the employer sanctions law was signed on July 2, the number of Arizona employers registered for the E-verify program has more than doubled to almost 1,400 businesses.

"We still have a long way to go to make sure all 130,000-plus businesses are aware of the program," Hamer said. "However, the Arizona Chamber is committed to ensuring that every Arizona employer understands what the law requires."



http://news.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=614103

Of course the funding is not there. It is not there for the fence either. We just have enough money to keep pushing the Dream Act though.

Originally Posted by Paige

Of course the funding is not there. It is not there for the fence either. We just have enough money to keep pushing the Dream Act though.

And to send another Billion of America's tax dollars to Mexico for drug inforcement.

Originally Posted by Sandra Haros/KTAR

Meanwhile, Arizona businesses are taking steps to be ready when the employer sanctions law takes effect Jan. 1. The law requires employers to verify citizenship of workers and imposes penalties for those who hire illegal immigrants.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce has pledged to continue its education campaign to ensure all employers in the state are prepared. The chamber recently partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to offer a weekly live web seminar that demonstrates the program and allows individuals to ask questions directly of Homeland Security officers.

So now we are depending upon the Chamber of Commerce to help implement employer sanctions against employing illegal aliens?

Oh, the IRONY!