Thread: MD-Sheriff: 287(g) revisions will not change immigration enf

Sheriff says 287(g) revisions will not change immigration enforcement
Originally published July 23, 2009


By Nicholas C. Stern







A program that allows local police to enforce federal immigration laws will now focus more on prosecuting criminals, but that change will not significantly alter how the program is run here, Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said.
On July 10, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced plans to standardize her agency's memorandums of agreement for 287(g) partnerships with trained local law enforcement agencies.

The changes came after congressional hearings and a report last spring by the U.S. Government Accountability Office that criticized aspects of the program.

GAO criticisms included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's lack of guidance and oversight of participating local agencies.

The new agreements will require participating agencies to prioritize the arrest, identification and removal of criminal aliens, a Department of Homeland Security press release stated. Guidelines for reporting and tracking information, complaint procedures and implementation measures will also be included, Homeland Security said.

Justin Cox, an attorney for CASA de Maryland, the state's largest immigrant advocacy group, hopes the changes will be meaningful.

"In theory, this is a move in the right direction, putting limits on authority, spelling out the responsibilities of local jurisdictions," he said.

The impact of these changes remains to be seen, however, because Homeland Security has yet to release complete copies of the new agreements, he said.


Changing priorities?

According to CASA, many people arrested under the 287(g) program are charged with traffic violations.

Of 284 criminal charges processed through the program in 2008, nearly half were driving without a license, a 2008 sheriff's office report stated.

CASA is worried that some of these arrests are the result of racial profiling.

Jenkins said the accusation, leveled against his office since the 287(g) agreement was signed last year, is baseless.

Immigration status is checked only after people are arrested and taken to the county jail, he said.

Furthermore, the local program already has adequate supervision and guidance from ICE officials, he said.

"To be honest, looking at the new versus old, changes to the program are not that significant," Jenkins said.

The sheriff's office would be affected by the new agreements only if it created an immigration task force, he said.

"If there was an active stand-alone unit, it could impact that."

The new 287(g) agreement requires participating agencies to pursue all criminal charges that bring people into custody, the Homeland Security press release stated.

Jenkins said this is already being done.

The state's attorney's office then prosecutes suspects on the facts and circumstances of each case, Jenkins said.

"The law runs its course in Frederick County before anyone is removed."

Cox said he has reviewed information on both criminal and civil immigration charges against about half the people detained in Frederick County under 287(g).

About a quarter of those arrested never saw their criminal or traffic cases to completion, he said. Most were either deported or transferred to detention facilities elsewhere in the country, he said.

From a public safety standpoint, he said 287(g) is a distraction and a misallocation of resources. Jenkins disagreed, saying the program is an extension of police operations.

"We are not expending resources," he said. "Everything happens after the arrest."

The main purpose of 287(g) -- to remove from the country illegal immigrants who pose a danger to the community -- remains, he said.

"We're not going to end the program."

Agencies will have less than three months to sign the new agreements.

Jenkins did not anticipate any problems with the new language, and said his office should have the agreement signed before the deadline.


http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sectio ... ryID=92943

As soon as something helps the American people it is taken away and replaced by legislation to help illegals.

Where is MADD?

The main purpose of 287(g) -- to remove from the country illegal immigrants who pose a danger to the community -- remains, he said.

Let's keep the facts straight! According to the authors of 287(g), the program was designed to remove ALL illegal aliens that participating law enforcement organizations came into contact with during the normal performance of their duties. The original intent of the program was not to be selective in deciding which illegals did and didn't deserve to be deported.

Originally Posted by MW

The main purpose of 287(g) -- to remove from the country illegal immigrants who pose a danger to the community -- remains, he said.

Let's keep the facts straight! According to the authors of 287(g), the program was designed to remove ALL illegal aliens that participating law enforcement organizations came into contact with during the normal performance of their duties. The original intent of the program was not to be selective in deciding which illegals did and didn't deserve to be deported.

BINGO!