Immigration enforcement program blasted

Polis says it leads to profiling, fear, exploitation; Tancredo says 287 (g) works fine

Peter Marcus
Thursday, October 22, 2009






Democrats are pushing back against a Department of Homeland Security announcement last week that it will enter into new controversial agreements with local law enforcement agencies to combat illegal immigration.

Congressman Jared Polis, D-Boulder, said standardizing the 287 (g) program would only threaten the nation’s constitutional protections.

He points to accusations of racial profiling associated with the program, including Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arapio in Phoenix, who is being investigated by the Justice Department. Organizations such as the ACLU and Congressional Hispanic Caucus are calling on the government to end the controversial program.

“We’ve watched in horror as (Arapio) and others Ń a disgrace to the uniforms that they wear Ń have detained people based solely upon the color of their skin,â€