For Immediate Release // Excuse Cross Posting
October 27th 2016
Contact: Armando Carmona, armando@ndlon.org, (323) 250-3018
NDLON Response to New 287(g) Agreement in Harford County, Maryland
Los Angeles — On Wednesday, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland signed an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office that officially declares their participation in the 287(g) program. While the Sheriff uses tired claims arguing efforts to “protect public safety” the program has been widely criticized as one that not only criminalizes immigrants, but actually undermines the work of local police. In response to this announcement NDLON issued the following statements.
Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of NDLON said:
“We were stunned and baffled by the news that the 287(g) program has brought back to life by the Obama Administration. We call upon the President and DHS Secretary Johnson to immediately terminate the 287g program which has criminalized immigrants, resulted in massive civil rights violations, and endangered communities by undermining community policing.”
Salvador Reza of Tonatierra in Phoenix, Arizona said:
“Joe Arpaio is exhibit A as to why 287(g) should have been discontinued on Janet Napolitano’s first day at DHS. Instead, the Obama Administration chose to pursue the Arizonification of the country by entangling the mass incarceration and mass deportation systems. In Maricopa County, the truth is that DHS has been an accomplice to Arpaio’s civil rights violations, and the the Department of Justice has helped them both get away with the crime. The decision to expand the 287g program at this point is disgraceful.”
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