SC-Barrett wants to expand immigration policies

Barrett wants to expand immigration policies
By CHRIS TRAINOR/ ctrainor@indexjournal.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 9:10 AM EST

Republican gubernatorial candidate and Third District U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett made a campaign proposal Tuesday to expand an immigration and customs enforcement initiative that would equip local law enforcement with the training and authority to tackle illegal immigration in all South Carolina’s counties.

Barrett, who is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Immigration Caucus, is proposing a statewide expansion of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement’s 287(g) program.

"287(g) is a program that authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, and it permits the designated officers who have been through that training to conduct immigration law enforcement,â€