Local law enforcement prepare to expand partnership with ICE before Trump return

[Lauren]

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE GEARING UP TO EXPAND A CONTENTIOUS PROGRAM THAT ENABLES THEM TO COLLABORATE WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) AS PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S INCOMING ADMINISTRATION DECIDES HOW TO CARRY OUT WHAT COULD BE THE LARGEST MASS DEPORTATION IN HISTORY.

THE 287(G) PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED BY THE 1996 ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT, ALLOWS ICE TO GRANT STATE AND LOCAL POLICE THE AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT CERTAIN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TASKS.

UNDER THE PROGRAM, ICE WORKS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO IDENTIFY AND DEPORT CRIMINAL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN CUSTODY.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE AGENCIES IN 21 STATES PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.

CRITICS OF THE PROGRAM, SUCH AS THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU)  CALL IT RACIAL PROFILING AND ARGUE IT CREATES FEAR WITHIN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

SUPPORTERS OF THE PROGRAM DENY ACCUSATIONS OF RACIAL PROFILING  AND TARGETING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. THEY NOTE ENFORCEMENT OCCURS ONLY AFTER AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON OTHER CHARGES AND IS IN CUSTODY AT A JAIL OR DETENTION FACILITY.

STATE AND LOCAL DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH TRUMP’S MASS DEPORTATION PLANS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, DENVER MAYOR MIKE JOHNSTON SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO GO TO JAIL, INSTEAD OF HELPING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REMOVE VIOLENT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S NEW “BORDER CZAR” TOM HOMAN RESPONDED, SAYING HE’S WILLING TO PUT MAYOR JOHNSTON IN JAIL.

MAYOR JOHNSTON WALKED BACK HIS COMMENTS TUESDAY.

“ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO JAIL OVER THIS?” CNN ANCHOR ERIN BURNETT ASKED JOHNSTON.

“YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE THOUGHTFUL WAYS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM,” HE RESPONDED. “IF THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON VIOLENT CRIMINALS, WE’D BE HAPPY TO HELP SUPPORT PURSUING, ARRESTING AND DEPORTING THEM. WE’VE HELPED PAST ADMINISTRATIONS AND WE WOULD DO THAT AGAIN.”

THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN MARYLAND IS A PART OF THE 287(G) PROGRAM AND SGT. CHRISTOPHER CRESPO TELLS NBC NEWS THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING FOR CHANGES AS TRUMP’S INAUGURATION DRAWS CLOSER.