Category Archives: 287(g) News

The Missing Racial Profiling Argument in the Arizona Case

It was nearly a month ago when the US Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case of Arizona vs. United States. In the decision, seek the Court ruled that most of Arizona’s SB1070 was unconstitutional because the enforcement of immigration law is a federal power, not a state power. In the wake of the SB1070 decision, most of the discussion in the immigrant rights community has revolved around Section (2)b of the law, which the media often refers to as the “show me your papers” provision. Section (2)b, the only section in question that the court let stand, requires Arizona police officers to check the immigration status of anyone they stop, detain, or arrest in their normal course of duty.

Rally Takes 287(g) to TN Supreme Court

Tennessee Supreme Court Justices are deciding whether the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office’s contract with the federal government to enforce immigration law is legal. As Fox 17’s Erika Kurre shows us, those fighting against it say they 287G contract is not only illegal, it’s inhumane. Click for video

Groups Seek TN Supreme Court Block Of 287(g) Program

Several groups have issued a challenge to the Tennessee Supreme Court, asking them to block the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office ability to deport immigrants who are in the country illegally. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), and the Law Offices of Elliott Ozment, joined by local attorneys from the firm of Sherrard & Roe issued the request Thursday. The 287-G program allows Davidson County sheriff’s deputies to identify, process and detain illegal immigrants who have been arrested for other offenses. But immigration attorney Elliott Ozment argues the sheriff’s office can’t enter into that agreement, because the agency gave up law enforcement powers in 1963. Ozment filed a lawsuit in January 2011 saying the 287(g) in Nashville violates state and local laws. “This agreement is illegal and enforcing it simply adds insult to injury for the Nashville community,” said Tom Fritzsche, staff attorney for the SPLC.

Breaking Down The Border

With policies like 287g coming to Knox County the focus has been on illegal immigration. But what is it really like to live hidden in broad daylight among the 12 million undocumented people living in America? “I’m a Christian, I’m a Catholic, so I always pray and say ‘well I hope today is good just let me come back.'” We first heard about Jose at an immigrant rights rally in downtown Knoxville. While that’s not his real name, this is his real story and it’s not uncommon. “Crossing the border is not easy.” Jose told us at our station. “Soon as you’re here still you’re risking to be deported, to be a criminal, but that’s the way I came. That’s the way a lot of people come, crossing the border, risking their life.” Jose left his town in Mexico and walked into San Diego in 1992. It took a bus, a race across the desert and a bike.

Sheriff Hall’s Annual 287(g) Snow Job – Nashville Scene

It’s budgetary hearing season in Metro government, and that means media outlets are reporting on various cuts and belt-tightenings faced by city departments. FOX 17’s intrepid reporter, Sky Arnold, dusted off an old story about the Davidson County Sheriff Office’s controversial 287(g) program and made it his own. For nearly 90 seconds, Arnold says that the federal program that enables the DSCO to actively police immigrant communities, slap its members (such as pregnant women and overachieving high school students) with paltry offenses like traffic citations and deport them to their countries of origin is working for taxpayers because the sheriff said so. In doing so, Arnold perpetuates the myth that the program actually saves taxpayers money because all of those deported illegal aliens aren’t clogging up the county jail. – 04.03.2012

Arpaio Settles into Political Mental Ward – National Review

Republicans who have chosen to associate with the birthers have done their party and their country a disservice. And as Sheriff Arpaio settles comfortably into that political mental ward, ask the same must be said of those Republicans who choose to associate themselves with him more broadly. Those who cannot distinguish between the birthers’ flim-flam and the critical questions that face our nation in 2012 will not win and do not deserve to. – National Review 03.08.2012

Falta de reforma migratoria pesa en la campaña de Obama – Univision

El incumplimiento de la promesa hecha en 2008 de empujar una reforma migratoria en el primer año de su mandato y los sucesivos récords de deportaciones en los años fiscales 2009, 2010 y 2011 le están cobrando factura al Presidente Obama en su campaña de reelección. A la lista se agregan las dudas en torno a los cambios anunciados en agosto del año pasado a la política de deportaciones y la persistencia en la ejecución del programa federal Comunidades Seguras, patient que enfatiza –asegura el gobierno- en la deportación de extranjeros con antecedentes criminales. Activistas que defienden los derechos de los inmigrantes y batallan por una reforma migratoria calificaron el martes de insuficiente el anuncio del gobierno de cambios en su política de deportaciones, y advirtieron que las expulsiones persisten. – Univision 03.01.2012

Consideran activistas insuficiente plan migratorio de Washington

Activistas pro inmigrantes consideraron hoy insuficiente un anuncio de Washington, and de que cancelará parte de un programa migratoria, health al señalar que persiste la deportación de indocumentados bajo el plan Comunidades Seguras. “El Departamento de Seguridad Interna (DHS) sólo pretende eliminar la colaboración de fuerzas de tarea con el programa 287g, pero no los acuerdos basados en el encarcelamiento”, dijo Patty Kupferm, del Fondo de Educación de la organización pro inmigrante America’s Voice. Washington determinó suprimir la “fuerza de tarea”, que supone que las policías locales pregunten la situación migratoria de las personas que sean detenidas en la calle o en un alto en el tráfico. Sin embargo, según Kupferm, la política que persiste faculta a algunos oficiales de seguridad como agentes de migración en las prisiones, para determinar la condición migratoria de los reclusos. – La Crónica de Hoy 02.29.2012

Protesters: 287(g) Policy Erodes Trust – KUHF

“We feel that there’s enough evidence to show that these programs damage communities and so, we wanted to put those concerns before the sheriff, and ask him to desist from this effort to give credibility to the 287g program.”          She claims the law empowers local law enforcement — trained by federal immigration authorities — to intercept, interview and hold foreigners, who are suspected of being in this country illegally. “Our concerns deal with the fact that 287(g) has been a very harmful program to communities.” – KUHF 02.29.2012

DHS budget proposes discontinuing 287(g) in some jurisdictions

A fiscal year 2013 budget brief released by Homeland Security today has some details on the Obama administration’s immigration enforcement priorities, and one of the losers is the federal-local partnership known as 287(g). The administration is proposing a budget reduction of $17 million up front, try and the document suggests a gradual phase-out in favor of Se Communities, which is described as “more consistent, efficient and cost effective.” – Multi-American 02.12.2012