FSPD Applies Again For ICE Training
Sunday, January 18, 2009 9:58 AM CST
By Amy Sherrill

Fort Smith Police Chief Kevin Lindsey has resubmitted an application to participate in a federal program that allows local police to conduct investigations of suspected illegal aliens, a police spokesman said.

A previous application to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Delegation of Authority program was denied in November.

In October 2007, the Fort Smith Police Department submitted a request for consideration to participate in the program, according to the Police Department.

A month later, the Police Department received a satisfactory assessment from ICE officials after an on-site assessment. ICE officials approved Fort Smith to continue with the application process, according to Sgt. Levi Risley of the Fort Smith Police Department.

Lindsey received a letter in November from William Riley, Acting Executive Director, Office of State and Local Coordination, Immigration and Customs Enforcement informing him that ICE would not support the training request, Risley said. Lindsey resubmitted an application recently to the new Executive Director of the Office of State and Local Coordination.

If the department is accepted into the training program, Lindsey hopes to have six officers working in immigration cases. A supervisory sergeant, a public information sergeant and four senior officers would make up the squad, Risley said.

Lindsey has asked the Fort Smith Board of Directors for four additional patrol officer slots to compensate as four senior officers would be assigned to the squad, Risley said.

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with local law enforcement that allow trained local officers to perform immigration enforcement actions under the supervision of local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

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