Law agencies make new pact on illegal deportation
By Audrey Hudson
The Washington Times, October 17, 2009
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/17/law-agencies-make-new-pact-on-illegals-sheriff-sti/
Department of Homeland Security officials have signed new agreements authorizing nearly 70 state and local law enforcement agencies, including a contentious Arizona sheriff, to help arrest and deport illegal immigrants charged with violent or criminal acts.
Under the new agreements, Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., who has come under fire for his immigration sweeps, will continue to work with federal authorities when illegal immigrants are booked into his jail. But Sheriff Arpaio's office will not be given the power to arrest such people, as it previously had, federal officials said.
As the new agreements were announced, Sheriff Arpaio launched a crime and immigration sweep Friday in northwestern metro Phoenix, according to the Associated Press.
The sheriff told the AP that he can still arrest immigrants under a state smuggling law and a federal law that gives all local police agencies more limited power to detain suspected illegal immigrants.
'It doesn't bother me, because we are going to do the same thing,' Sheriff Arpaio said. 'I am the elected sheriff. I don't take orders from the federal government.'
As the deadline passed Friday for agencies to participate in the so-called 287(g) program, 55 agreements had been signed, and more than a dozen others were awaiting approval or were still in negotiations, including participation by 11 new departments.
At least six departments have withdrawn from the program, citing reasons including budgetary constraints, said John Morton, assistant secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Critics complained that, under the old agreement, immigrants were arrested on misdemeanor charges that were never prosecuted. Instead, they were deported. The program was suspended by the Obama administration.
The new agreement allows for 'greater accountability and transparency,' including regular audits and closer federal inspection, said Mr. Morton.
No agencies in the District or Maryland are participating. But in Virginia, the Prince William County Sheriff's Office and Police Department, and Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center have renewed their agreements. So have the Manassas Police Department, Manassas Park Police Department, Rockingham County Sheriff's Office and Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office.
The program, which began in 1996, expedites the deportation of criminal aliens by identifying those already in jail to be deported after time served, and by training and enlisting local police officers to arrest those who pose a threat to local communities.
The new agreements are intended to curb reported abuses in the program: Illegal immigrants purportedly were arrested for minor offenses, and there were allegations of profiling.
Sheriff Arpaio's office will continue to conduct raids as part of a 'crime suppression operation,' said Deputy Doug Matteson.
'The sheriff has vowed to continue his enforcement of all aspects of immigration laws and says that the federal government's move to strip deputies of their ICE status will not change anything,' Deputy Matteson said.
Sheriff Arpaio still has the authority to arrest illegal immigrants under state laws, Mr. Morton said. No details were released about Friday's' crackdown.
Asked whether ICE will take custody of any illegal immigrants possibly arrested Friday by the sheriff's office, Mr. Morton said, 'We are going to respond to Maricopa County the way we would respond to any law enforcement agency in Arizona.'
He added, however, that Sheriff Arpaio's raids were 'not consistent' with the agency's priorities, which is to target violent criminals who are in the country illegally.
'If they give us a call, we will come and respond on the merits of it, case by case,' Mr. Morton said.
Frank Sharry, executive director of the immigration reform group Americas Voice, said the sheriff has used outrageous tactics to terrorize Hispanic neighborhoods, and that has resulted in 3,500 lawsuits and a Justice Department civil rights investigation.
'Arpaio should be stopped, not re-signed,' Mr. Sharry said.
Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a pro-immigrant advocacy group, criticized the program as 'misguided and ineffective.'
'Succumbing to the siren call of an enforcement-only approach will not solve the immigration problem once and for all,' Mr. Noorani said.
However, the Center for Immigration Studies is set to release a report on the 287(g) program, which it says has reduced immigration-related public safety problems and assists the federal government in removing illegal immigrants.
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County Agrees To Rules on Immigration Enforcement
By Jennifer Buske
The Washington Post, October 18, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/16/AR2009101603798.html
Md. reaction to immigration proposal foreshadows national debate
By Tina Irgang
The Capital News Service, October 18, 2009
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/gov/2009/10/18-02/Md-reaction-to-immigration-proposal-foreshadows-national-debate.html
U.S. Alters Disputed Immigration Rules for Police
By Randal C. Archibold
The New York Times, October 17, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/us/17immig.html?_r=1
Feds sign up locals to help enforce immigration
By Suzanne Gamboa
The Associated Press, October 17, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hP40tXGOw_nqDZvXSle5kYpHLTlQD9BCE5HO0
Troopers renew deal with feds on immigration
By Erin Stock
The Birmingham News (AL), October 17, 2009
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/1255770958224160.xml&coll=1
HPD won't screen for immigration
City pulls out of controversial ICE program
By Susan Carroll
The Houston Chronicle, October 17, 2009
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/immigration/6671859.html
ICE-local immigration partnership to remain
By Anna Gorman
The Los Angeles Times, October 17, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immig-law17-2009oct17,0,3127477.story
Carrollton, Farmers Branch part of revised immigration program
By Dianne Solis
The Dallas Morning News, October 16, 2009
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/101709dnmet287g.3d77c1d.html
FSPD Loses ICE Training Funds
By Amy Sherrill
The Times Record (Fort Smith, AR), October 16, 2009
http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2009/10/17/news/news101709_05.txt
Sheriff's office reaches pact with feds
To identify illegal immigrants in county jail
By Bob Jordan
The Asbury Park Press (NJ), October 16, 2009
http://www.app.com/article/20091016/NEWS/910160358/1004/NEWS01/Sheriff+s+office+reaches+pact+with+feds
Law Enforcement Says No To Enforcing Immigration Laws, Again
By Amy Isackson
The KBPS News (San Diego), October 16, 2009
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/oct/16/san-diego-law-enforcement-says-no-enforcing-immigr/
