rssLocal Law Enforcement Uses Immigration Authority to Target the Wrong People
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 at 10:16 am
- 8 Comments
For anyone who’s heard about the controversy over renegade Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who parades undocumented immigrants in pink underwear and houses them in tents where temperatures reach 150 degrees, it will come as little surprise to hear that a Government Accountability Office report today concludes that a controversial program to have border patrol agents work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement hasn’t worked out exactly as planned.
Apparently the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security, didn’t clearly explain to local police that they were supposed to use their newfound authority to focus on serious criminals — drug dealers, gang leaders, murderers and the like.
Instead, the report finds, according to The Associated Press, which obtained advance copies (the GAO report was not available this morning — we’ll post as soon as it is) local law enforcement used racial profiling pick up people for speeding, carrying an open container and urinating in public.
The law in question authorizes ICE to train local and state law enforcement to use its databases to determine legal status and take the first steps in deportation proceedings, but it does not specify which kinds of illegal immigrants to focus on. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has ordered a review of the so-called 287(g) program, named after the law that authorizes it. It grants authority to ICE to train local and state law enforcement to use its databases to determine the legal status of a suspect and take the first steps in deportation proceedings.
As of last October, 67 local and state law enforcement agencies in 23 states had signed agreements to participate in the program. Participation accelerated beginning in 2007, after Congress failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Advocates, of course, have been complaining about the problems with the 287(g) program for quite a while now. In addition to hollering about Arpaio’s much-publicized abuses, which have led Democrats in Congress to call for a federal investigation, a report released last week by Justice Strategies finds that “Poor training and lack of oversight means that local authorities are not equipped to deal with the complexities associated with civil immigration law,” and often violate undocumented immigrants’ basic rights. That’s not surprising, given that the immigration law allows for arrest without probable cause, indefinite detention, and provides no right to legal counsel. The criminal justice system, on the other hand, isn’t supposed to tolerate that.
Put the two together, say many immigrants’ rights advocates, and you have a disaster on your hands.
This afternoon the House Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing on the 287(g) program and its failures. I’ll report back after the hearing.
8 Comments
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
So local law enforcement should leave certain illegal aliens alone? How frickin' Orwellian is that BS!
Illegal aliens are criminals and parasites, one and all. Their very presence here and practically everything they do on U. S. soil is illegal. They need to be ferreted out, rounded up like cattle, punished for their numerous crimes, then booted back to whence they snuck in from with such extreme prejudice that they will never, ever think of violating our sovereignty again. Enough is enough.
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
1. Arpaio does the occasional stupid thing, but he's not “renegade”. He has wide public support, and the DHS gave him a clean bill of health on his use of the 287g program.
2. “Justice Strategies” (mentioned above) is apparently a two-person outfit, both of them being Soros Justice fellows. Oddly enough, Soros also funds the group that brings you this site.
3. The only “disaster” is that we're enforcing our laws, discouraging illegal activity, and cutting into a current and future power base for corrupt Democrats. That's only a “disaster” to those crooks, not to the rest of us.
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
All the groups that contributed to this report are all illegal alien advocates so, of course, they will twist the info to fit their needs. These groups and all the illegal lovers do not want ANY type of enforcement of our immigration laws. Somehow it is racist to go after people who break our laws. The 287(g) arrangements are great and necessary because it lets the local cops get involved. They are the ones on the front lines in cities and towns and should have the authority to go after any and all lawbreakers. The Dems are just going to go to far with this and create a backlash from legal citizens who are tired of illegals breaking laws and mooching off of our country. Find them and deport them all !!
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Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
So local law enforcement should leave certain illegal aliens alone? How frickin' Orwellian is that BS!
Illegal aliens are criminals and parasites, one and all. Their very presence here and practically everything they do on U. S. soil is illegal. They need to be ferreted out, rounded up like cattle, punished for their numerous crimes, then booted back to whence they snuck in from with such extreme prejudice that they will never, ever think of violating our sovereignty again. Enough is enough.
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
1. Arpaio does the occasional stupid thing, but he's not “renegade”. He has wide public support, and the DHS gave him a clean bill of health on his use of the 287g program.
2. “Justice Strategies” (mentioned above) is apparently a two-person outfit, both of them being Soros Justice fellows. Oddly enough, Soros also funds the group that brings you this site.
3. The only “disaster” is that we're enforcing our laws, discouraging illegal activity, and cutting into a current and future power base for corrupt Democrats. That's only a “disaster” to those crooks, not to the rest of us.
Comment posted March 4, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
All the groups that contributed to this report are all illegal alien advocates so, of course, they will twist the info to fit their needs. These groups and all the illegal lovers do not want ANY type of enforcement of our immigration laws. Somehow it is racist to go after people who break our laws. The 287(g) arrangements are great and necessary because it lets the local cops get involved. They are the ones on the front lines in cities and towns and should have the authority to go after any and all lawbreakers. The Dems are just going to go to far with this and create a backlash from legal citizens who are tired of illegals breaking laws and mooching off of our country. Find them and deport them all !!
Comment posted June 25, 2009 @ 1:34 am
Wow, you sound like an ignorant, misguided person using the n-lover phrase that was so widely accepted before our nation became a little more civilized. I hope you don't eat fruits & vegetables, get your car washed, buy a new home, stay at hotels, or eat at restaurants, otherwise you'd benefit from our cheap labor and encouraging the “illegals.”
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