Thread: Herndon immigration enforcement nets results

09/11/2007
Herndon immigration enforcement nets results
By: Gregg MacDonald

The Herndon Police Department said it has netted more than a dozen suspected illegal aliens in the first two months since it began participating in a federal immigration enforcement program.
Town police have received Immigration and Customs Enforcement training through the 287(g) program, authorizing selected officers to enforce immigration laws.


According to Herndon Police Chief Toussaint Summers, for the months of June and July - reportedly the first full months of 287(g) participation - 13 out of 19 contacts made in accordance with the program resulted in detained individuals being turned over to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Those suspected illegal immigrants will eventually be processed through the federal court system for possible deportation.

"Based on these initial results, the program is doing exactly what it is designed to do - giving our officers another tool in their efforts to remove criminal illegal aliens from our community," Summers said.

The police department also released its strategic five-year plan last week, which includes results from a 2006 citizen survey that was randomly distributed to residents and businesses within the town last year.

In the survey's published results, it is noted that only 15 percent of those responding perceived "illegal immigrant issues" as a "major public safety issue for the Town of Herndon in the next five years."

The issue is hot in the Virginia legislature, however.
Del. Tom Rust (R-Herndon) last week urged Gov. Tim Kaine (D) to take immediate action by signing a similar agreement with ICE, allowing a certain number of specially trained state troopers to have expanded immigration enforcement capabilities.

Rust cited the Herndon Police Department as having already successfully entered the program.

Future immigration enforcement results from Herndon Police activities will be incorporated into the department's monthly report on crime statistics, Summers said. Updated reports are posted on the Town Services/Police page of the Town of Herndon Web site at www.herndon-va.gov

http://www.zwire.com

In the survey's published results, it is noted that only 15 percent of those responding perceived "illegal immigrant issues" as a "major public safety issue for the Town of Herndon in the next five years."

If they continue to enforce immigration laws, they may be fortunate enough to avoid having Herndon transformed into a Mexican barrio, since the illegals tend to flee from such areas. Lord knows there are enough Sanctuary Cities for them to illegally thrive in.