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| Illegal Immigrants at Barnett Ranch in Arizona |
According to documents uncovered by Judicial Watch, however, local communities that sincerely want to enforce immigration laws can do so legally and cost effectively through a training program administered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In September of 1996, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) added Section 287(g) to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA). Section 287(g) gives eligible local law enforcement officers the opportunity to receive “cross-designation” training in illegal immigration enforcement techniques.
The program lasts five weeks and costs approximately $520 per officer. According to ICE, the cross-designation training, “allows these local and state officers: necessary resources and latitude to pursue investigations relating to violent crimes, human smuggling, gang/organized crime activity, sexual-related offenses, narcotics smuggling and money laundering; and increased resources and support in more remote geographical locations.”
Does the program work?
As of June 2006, 136 officers received 287(g) training from four states, including, Alabama, Arizona, California and Florida. These officers have accounted for 820 immigration-related arrests since the program began in 2002. And while many of the arrests relate to fraudulent documents, others involve rape, drug possession, firearm possession, driving under the influence, and burglary.
Background
Judicial Watch Documents
News
