Thread: Tulsa: Deal to expand sheriff's authority

Deal to expand sheriff's authority


By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
8/9/2007


WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. John Sullivan announced Wednesday the final approval of a much-anticipated agreement that allows the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office to help enforce immigration laws.

"The is a great step forward for Tulsa and interior immigration enforcement," the Oklahoma Republican said. "After over a year of coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, I am pleased to have secured the acceptance of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office into the 287(g) program."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the memorandum of agreement.

The agency's assistant secretary, Julie Myers, said: "Combining local and federal resources will serve as a force multiplier to enhance safety in Tulsa County.

"The 287(g) program is one way we've worked together with local agencies across the country to identify thousands of criminal aliens. Now, Tulsa County will benefit from the partnership as well."

Sullivan, who has made immigration a top concern of his since he first ran for Congress, encouraged Tulsa County's participation.

"With their participation in the program, we can finally crack down on the criminal illegal alien population in Tulsa and begin to enforce our nation's interior immigration laws," he said.

Sheriff Stanley Glanz said the agency's approval means that training of 30 of his employees can begin Aug. 20.

"We are just real excited about it," said Glanz, who credited Sullivan with getting the process started.

In addition to giving the sheriff's personnel access to a federal data bank, which will speed the process at the jail, the program will allow them to concentrate on unlawful activity linked to illegal immigration such as identify theft, human trafficking, document forgery, prostitution and methamphetamine dealing, he said.

"We will also be doing investigations into companies that hire illegal immigrants," Glanz said.

Richard Rocha, a spokesman for the immigration agency, said Tulsa County's is the 23rd memorandum of agreement and that more than 400 officers have been trained in the program.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article. ... spanc06760

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