Thread: NC-Immigration Demonstrations At Historic Courthouse

Immigration Demonstrations At Historic Courthouse


May 3, 2010

A group of mostly local Hispanics, said to be about 100 of them, demonstrated late Monday against the 287 G Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program. Henderson is one of only a handful of counties in North Carolina that has implemented the program and Sheriff Rick Davis says the program has successfully apprehended, identified, and removed dozens of dangerous criminals who are in this county, and in this county, illegally.

One Latino leader in the community was quoted in the local newspaper as saying 287 G is largely being used to purge towns of any undocumented immigrants, not just those individuals with criminal records.

Meanwhile...some local TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party memberswere planning a counter-demonstration also at the Historic Courthouse late Monday in support of 287 G and local law enforcement.

County commissioners were meeting Monday night in the Historic Courthouse.

http://www.whkp.com/index.php?option=co ... ew&id=4656

Whoa a HUGE crowd of 100.

By John Harbin
Times-News Staff Writer


Published: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 3, 2010 at 11:46 p.m.


More than 100 community members gathered outside of the Historic Courthouse Monday afternoon to protest the 287(g) program. Another 20 people gathered to show support for the immigration law and Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis, who wants to expand the program.


More Photos:287(g) Protest
Organizers said the purpose of the "peaceful vigil" outside the courthouse on Main Street was to raise awareness about the damaging effects the 287(g) program has on Henderson County's families.

Members of the Immigrant Rights Coalition of Henderson County and their supporters then attended the county commissioners' meeting at 5:30 p.m. to share the message that "Hendersonville is home."

"The 287(g) program was originally intended to target and remove undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes, human smuggling, gang/organized crime activity, sexual-related offenses, narcotics smuggling and money laundering," IRC member Carolina McCready said. "However, the program is largely being used to purge towns of any undocumented immigrants, not just those individuals with criminal records, thereby having detrimental effects on North Carolina's communities."

McCready said IRC had been planning to talk to the commissioners since the beginning of the year because they felt like the Hispanic community was not being heard.

"The level of fear is growing and families are fearful of even going out of their homes," she said. "Ultimately we would like to the the 287(g) program discontinued."

Eleanor Damhesel of Hendersonville came out to show her opposition.

"I'm concerned," she said. "I have empathy for these people. I am against 287(g) and don't understand why they are deporting these people who are doing nothing."

Many Hispanics at the vigil were too nervous to be interviewed by the Times-News and declined to speak to reporters.

Catherine Lynch of Hendersonville said she believes the 287(g) program racially profiles and terrifies the Hispanic community.

"We have a program at our church where we tutor (Hispanic) students," Suzy Camp-Goodman said. "We're concerned that the 287(g) program has caused difficulties among families. I support the concept of the program to get criminals that are adjudicated with felonies, but not people being picked up and detained."

Heather Rayburn drove from Asheville to show her opposition.

"I'm here because I am disturbed at how people are being treated," she said. "If these people were white, they wouldn't be treated this way."

During the meeting Monday the Rev. Austin Rios and Maria Figueroa of IRC told commissioners why they think 287(g) is not a great program.

"Henderson County is our home and we share the values of community, unity and safety," Rios said. "We see Henderson County as one community, a community that wants to provide a safe place for families, opportunities and dreams to grow. We believe that justice is only possible when we are all free from the fear created by 287(g)."

Figueroa explained how 287(g) originated and what is has become to the Hispanic community.

"It originated in section 287(g) of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act," she said. "The Department of Homeland Security partners with local and state law enforcement in order to better apprehend criminals with an original focus on violent crimes.

"In 2008 the Henderson County Sheriff's Office entered into an memorandum of agreement under which officers are given several weeks of training by ICE and upon completion are authorized to detect and detain undocumented immigrants in the county detention facility."

Rios said a 2010 study of the program's effect in the state by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows no association between the rate of change in immigration and Hispanic populations in counties and crime rates.

Local attorney Scott Sheffron said that he sees the impact that 287(g) has on people every day because of his work in the courthouse.

"There is a sad joke in the courthouse that someone was arrested for a DWH, Driving While Hispanic," he said. "What aggravates me is that someone arrested without a license is arrested and deported. Anyone else stopped for the same thing would be issued a citation."

Rios closed his presentation by making a few recommendations.

"Uphold accountability by focusing resources on convicted criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety as stated in the Sheriff's Office's memorandum of agreement; adopt a policy of citation for traffic violations and other minor misdemeanors; provide transparency by releasing current arrest and racial profiling data and the cost of the 287(g) program to the public; and begin rebuilding trust with the Latino community through collaborative crime prevention programs as alternatives to 287(g)."


http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/201 ... l&tc=pgall